Resumen

ACOSTA URIBE, Beatriz; RUIZ SANCHEZ, Joel; MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ, Ariadna Crisantema  y  FLORES YEFFAL, Nadia Yamel. International Remittances and their incidence in the Human Development in San José Chiltepec, Oaxaca: An exploratory study. Nova scientia [online]. 2010, vol.2, n.3, pp.167-187. ISSN 2007-0705.

Traditionally, migration studies had focused in the remittances and their impact in the host communities. Specialized literature had showed the essential characteristics of this aspect just like the importance that they have in the economical development of Mexico, particularly to regional level. However, there are few studies about the relation between remittances and human development in the places with high and median migrant intensity. Research studies have agreed that the remittances had represented an improvement factor to the migrant families because they had helped to increase the consumption level and to acquire furniture to the Mexican families of the migrants (Canales, 2006). However, is necessary to explore and to measure the impact of the remittances to help improve the quality of life of the people who receive them. According to the United Nations Development Program the human development is about putting people at the centre of development. It is about people realizing their potential, increasing their choices and enjoying the freedom to lead lives they value (PNUD, 2007). The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between remittances and human development at San José Chiltepec, Oaxaca. San José Chiltepec is localized in High Basin of the Papaloapan River. The migration from Chiltepec, Oaxaca has been considered to be a recent phenomenon. "Cuestionario de Salud de los Migrantes y sus Familias de la Región Papaloapan [The Family Health and Migration Questionairee of the Region of Papaloapan] (Acosta, Ruiz, Flores, Martínez y Padilla, 2008) was administered. It was surveyed from October to December of 2008. Human development variables were analyzed. They are related to the use of remittances, specifically, consumption, education, health and entertainment. Results are interesting. In spite of that the principal use of remittances is for basic consumption. On average, migrant families invest more remittances to acquire furniture, and part of the remittances is invested in education and health. Remittances have helped to increase the levels of consumption and have helped migrant families to obtain consumer goods and services. Furthermore, remittances help to increase freedom, decision making and capacities, in general, people have improved their welfare level and standard of living. Therefore, migrant families have benefitted positively from remittances because remittances have had a positive impact in their human development.

Palabras llave : International Migration; International Remittances; Human Development; Marginalization.