Over the past months significant press attention has focused on the Honduran government, after the ouster of its former president. Manuel Zelaya, however, is not the only person dislocated by the political crisis.
Today, a National Public Radio (NPR) story highlighted the increased northward movement of Hondurans, as they seek employment, not to mention a safer locale. As one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere (along with Haiti, Nicaragua and Guyana), Hondurans have often found better financial circumstances elsewhere. Now their country’s weak economy has been made worse due to a still uncertain political situation.
At present, Honduran emigration may be a relative exception. For example, while the global economic troubles have led to a steep reduction in the immigration of Mexicans into the United States, Hondurans continue to look for jobs abroad. Many of them end up seeking opportunities in Mexico.
Although a range of factors are at play, economic migration generally takes place if an international migrant perceives that the likely financial benefits to movement – taking into account the costs and risks involved – outweigh the opportunities of remaining in their country of origin. Interestingly, with the current financial climate this means that Mexico remains the location of choice for more of its citizens, while also remaining attractive to the comparatively poorer Honduras.
Further information on the decline in Mexican migration to the United States can be found here.
