Emigration and Educational Attainment in Mexico
Author(s): C. Woodruff G. H. Hanson
This paper examines the impact of migration to the United States on educational attainment in Mexico by considering whether children who live in households with migrants to the United States have higher levels of educational attainment than children who live in households without migrants. The research is based on a 10 percent sub-sample of the 2000 Mexico Census of Population and Housing, which provides detailed information on members of a household who reside abroad. The results of the research demonstrate that children in migrant households complete significantly more years of schooling. This is consistent with the idea that sending a migrant abroad raises family income and allows children in the family to complete more schooling. Other findings of the research show that family structure has important effects on educational attainment. Oldest children complete more schooling, which may indicate that parents tend to invest more in their first born. Children who live in households with more children or with very young children obtain less education. Furthermore, there is some evidence that regional effects matter for schooling outcomes. Children living in municipalities that are more specialized in agriculture complete less schooling, which may indicate that children attend school less regularly where they have nearby employment options on the farm.