Remittances and Inequality

The impact of remittances on inequality is uncertain a priori. However, at the margin, remittances are likely to be more inequality increasing (or less inequality decreasing) in poorer as opposed to richer areas. This is suggested with a simple theoretical model, and tested empirically using survey-based estimates of the Gini income elasticity of remittances in Honduras. The results are robust to alternative distribution weights used for measuring inequality.Migration, Remittances, Income Distribution.

Do Cash Transfers to Farmers Reduce Migration? Procampo in Mexico

This paper provides a theoretical model to suggest that if cash transfers for farmers have or are perceived to have conditionalities in terms of location (whereby at least some household members must remain at the place of origin to benefit from the transfers), their impact on temporary and permanent migration is uncertain a priori. To test empirically what the impact of the transfers could be, we use data on Procampo, a large transfer program for rural farmers in Mexico implemented since 1994. We find that the impact of Procampo on both permanent and temporary migration has been negative.Migration, Cash Transfers, Mexico, Latin America

Migration and Poverty in Mexico’s Southern States

While Mexico's southern states differ substantially in terms of their migration profile, many of the issues confronted by the three states are the same. In this paper, we focus on five questions: (a) How large are migration flows, and what can be expected in the future?; (b) To what extent does migration increase per capita income and thereby reduce poverty?; (c) What are the determinants of migration?; (d) What is the impact of remittances on poverty, inequality, and development?; and (e) What programs are implemented by the government to increase the benefits from remittances, and what can be done to reduce the cost for migrants of remitting?Mexico; Migration; Remittances; Poverty; Policies

Migration and Poverty in Mexico’s Southern States

While Mexico's southern states differ substantially in terms of their migration profile, many of the issues confronted by the three states are the same. In this paper, we focus on five questions: (a) How large are migration flows, and what can be expected in the future?; (b) To what extent does migration increase per capita income and thereby reduce poverty?; (c) What are the determinants of migration?; (d) What is the impact of remittances on poverty, inequality, and development?; and (e) What programs are implemented by the government to increase the benefits from remittances, and what can be done to reduce the cost for migrants of remitting

Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis of Influenza Virus Polymerase Complex Reveals a Novel Association with Mitochondrial Proteins and RNA Polymerase Accessory Factors▿†

The trimeric RNA polymerase complex (3P, for PA-PB1-PB2) of influenza A virus (IAV) is an important viral determinant of pathogenicity and host range restriction. Specific interactions of the polymerase complex with host proteins may be determining factors in both of these characteristics and play important roles in the viral life cycle. To investigate this question, we performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis of human host proteins associated with the polymerase of the well-characterized H5N1 Vietnam/1203/04 isolate. We identified over 400 proteins by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), of which over 300 were found to bind to the PA subunit alone. The most intriguing and novel finding was the large number of mitochondrial proteins (∼20%) that associated with the PA subunit. These proteins mediate molecular transport across the mitochondrial membrane or regulate membrane potential and may in concert with the identified mitochondrion-associated apoptosis inducing factor (AIFM1) have roles in the induction of apoptosis upon association with PA. Additionally, we identified host factors that associated with the PA-PB1 (68 proteins) and/or the 3P complex (34 proteins) including proteins that have roles in innate antiviral signaling (e.g., ZAPS or HaxI) or are cellular RNA polymerase accessory factors (e.g., polymerase I transcript release factor [PTRF] or Supt5H). IAV strain-specific host factor binding to the polymerase was not observed in our analysis. Overall, this study has shed light into the complex contributions of the IAV polymerase to host cell pathogenicity and allows for direct investigations into the biological significance of these newly described interactions