Abstract: This chapter argues that the flood of remittances to the Mexican countryside has contributed to political and social stability during a string of economic crises over the years. Analyses of survey data collected in Michoacán, Mexico during the 2007–2008 food crisis show that remittances promoted income stability, reduced economic grievances, and reduced citizens’ demand for government-provided welfare. I argue that similar processes may have prevented civil unrest during Mexico’s market transition in the 1990s. Interviews with farmers, townspeople, and government officials suggest that remittances have lifted spirits in the countryside and helped to reduce the kind of suffering and anger that gave rise to the Zapatista uprising.
Publication Year: 2018
Publication Date: 2018-04-19
Language: en
Type: book
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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