Migration to the United States and Mexican Rural Development: A Case Study

Abstract
In-depth study of Las Animas, Mexico, allows us to analyze the impact of migration to the United States on both sending community and receiving labor markets. As the community becomes increasingly involved in migration, tendencies can be identified regarding changing migration patterns, class differentiation among villagers, impact of migration on village economy, and the changing role of Mexican workers in California labor markets. Results indicate the importance of social networks in determining the outcome of migration; while migration is individually rational, it is a factor of stagnation for village economy, and it helps reproduce segmented California labor markets.