From 28 to 30 October 2007, exceptional rainfall fell in the Grijalva River Basin, in Chiapas and Tabasco, Mexico, producing huge runoff and flooding in about 70% of the Tabasco flatlands. More than 1 million people were affected, mostly in the city of Villahermosa. In southeastern Mexico, flooding damages have increased in the last decades, due to population growth and human settlements developing in areas prone to flooding. A preliminary analysis is made of the causes of the disaster and of the possible courses of action that could be taken to prevent similar situations in the future. The hydrometeorological occurrence of the phenomenon is reviewed, and the operation and management of dams and other flood control system components, including forecast and alert procedures, are assessed. Recommendations are made on integrated flood management, joint operational policies of infrastructure, a territorial ordinance plan, forecast needs, social participation, training, and information dissemination among the population and stakeholders.
How does the reception of remittances change the views of those left behind? In this paper, we compare the impact of financial remittances (transmission of money) with the impact of social remittances (transmission of ideas and values) on preferences about the role of the state in the economy (in particular, the role of the state in creating jobs, reducing inequality, and securing citizens' well-being). Using data from the Latin American Public Opinion Project (2008Project ( -2010, we find that social learning via cross-border communication is positively associated with preference for an enhanced role of the state.
We explore how the reception of remittances affects perceptions of the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States. Scholars have claimed that the economic benefits of the relationship with the US prevail over imperialistic concerns as a result of the asymmetry of power between the two countries. Empirical research shows that Latin American public opinion is indeed more supportive of the US than theory indicates. However, we identify two gaps in this literature. First, scholars have explored the determinants of generic expressions of sentiment toward the US, overlooking more concrete instances of cooperation between the two countries. Second, scholars have focused on trade and investment and have ignored how the material gains of emigration shape attitudes toward the US. The present paper fills these two gaps by using novel survey data on the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the US. On one hand, we find that while the reception of remittances correlates positively with good sentiments toward the US, the recipients of remittances are consistently more opposed to cooperation with the US in the fight against drug trafficking. We argue that this finding can be explained by the different nature of the migratory phenomenon, and the connection between anti-drug trafficking policies and the close scrutiny of illegal flows of money and people.
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