The Link between Migration and the Intentions to Have Additional Children in Mexico

Ricardo R. R. Regules, El Colegio de México

Demographers and population researchers have demonstrated that fertility intentions are associated to demographic and socioeconomic factors. More recently, fertility intentions have been related to social networks and support, residential satisfaction and stability. Nevertheless, processes which undertake the fertility transition are also linked to migration. A number of hypotheses have been proposed suggesting migration may impact fertility behavior. However, migration may affect fertility through fertility intentions. I argue in this paper that spousal separation resulting from migration is likely to affect the intention to have additional children. Data derived from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) has demonstrated that migration interferes with women’s intention to have additional children. Moreover, qualitative information has been used to show that the burden of family separation as a result of migration has important implications for women’s intentions to have additional children.