Abstract

REYES MORALES, Rafael G.; GIJON CRUZ, Alicia Sylvia  and  CRUZ HERNANDEZ, Isabel. Migración internacional, economías familiares, mercados y medio ambiente en México. Migr. desarro [online]. 2015, vol.13, n.25, pp.117-150. ISSN 1870-7599.

This article describes a general economic model of rural households in Mexico that establishes a relationship between the degree of family wellbeing and the household incomes drawn from the market economy. International remittances are a part of these incomes, as well as: government payments, production for household consumption, and the availability of human and social capital. International remittances could be viewed as the catalyst, and in other cases regional wages, to raise the levels of wellbeing beyond the level that allows for the majority of households to participate in the local economy. However, the level of family wellbeing may be eroded incrementally by deteriorating health indicators due to environmental contamination and insufficient diets. When this occurs, households will have surpassed critical consumption levels and therefore any increase in family income will still lead to decreasing levels of family wellbeing.

Keywords : family wellbeing; international remittances; regional wages; social and human capital; critical consumption.