California Center for Population Research

The present paper examines health selectivity of migrants using data from the Mexican Family Life Survey; a panel ideally suited for this as it allows a comparison of migrants with non-migrants, with measures taken prior to migration. The analysis consists of logistic regressions of whether respondents, from urban/rural origins, migrated to another locality within Mexico between 2002 and 2005. Covariates include physical assessments of health and self-reported measures. The analytical sample is comprised of 8,567 individuals aged 15-49 years. Overall I found evidence of varying selectivity depending on the age group: positive health selection is associated with migrants age 20 or older while negative health selection is associated with younger migrants. In rural areas particularly, I found positive health selection on the basis of perceived health, and negative selection on the basis of chronic conditions.