Free Trade Agreements and their impact on Latin American migrations: An approach

This paper aims to review the causes of internationalmigration and the potential impact of FTAs (Free TradeAgreements) on Latin American Migrations. Thefirst part describes the economic and non-economiccauses for migration. The second one shows the potentialimpact of FTAs in the economy (job creation/destruction by sectors) in CAFTA countries and Colombia.The last part shows that there is little correlationbetween the commercial openness (FTAs) andthe reduction of poverty. Poverty seems to be increasingin the studied countries -even more in thosewith the most open commercial regimens, than inthose with the most closed ones. Data proves thatopenness doesn´t reduce the poverty automatically;on the contrary, in some (regional or subregional) casesit increases and causes a major determinant of internationalmigration in Latin American countries.