Relaciones entre pobreza, migración y movilidad: dimensiones territorial y contextual

Resumen

Links between poverty, migration and mobility: territorial and contextual dimensionsDespite the limitations of census microdata, they are a unique source for analysing migration and, when correctly used, can also provide clues on the links between migration and poverty.The study examines the socioeconomic segmentation of migration and daily commuting, both in terms of people and territories.Various tools and procedures (some new) are used to formulate generalizations and represent them graphically.The analysis focuses on Chile, although it includes findings from a previous study in Mexico, based on the location of indigenous people and their migratory patterns.In Chile, the propensity to move around -in terms of migration or daily commuting-tends to increase in line with socioeconomic status.This suggests that people from lower social strata have few opportunities for escaping poverty through migration.At the territorial level, the geography of migration and poverty was mapped out to show a complex topography where certain communities benefit from migration while others lose out (including some poor communities).In the latter, the emigration of the most skilled individuals encourages the appearance of poverty traps.To supplement the individual and contextual levels of analysis, a hierarchical model is formulated to show that the probability of migration increases in proportion to the socioeconomic condition of individuals and territories.Lastly, simulated economic improvements for migrants (dependent on the average income differential between community of origin and destination) showed no generalized improvement resulting from migration and no specific benefits for the poor, although there were benefits for young people and women (irrespective of their socioeconomic situation).