International Journal of Business and Social Science Volume 8 • Number 10 • October 2017 25 Investment in Small Business among International Migrants in the Estado Deméxico Renato Salas Alfaro Research Professor Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Patricia Román Reyes Research Professor Centro de Investigación y Estudios en Movilidades y Migraciones Internacionales de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Abstract This work analyzes the productive inversions of the international remittances, the constraints that the migrants face. A non-random sample of migrants that invested remittances in business is taken in the Estadode México. The results show various types of investments, in which have influence, the family, the migratory experiences, the previous experience in business, the knowledge they brought to the return. All of them want to find an income source and not migrate again, but is noted that only who have sustainable income business, are who can build better livelihoods, while owning an unstable business causes instability in the livelihood, as well as intentions to return to abroad, Duel features are also observed, and other traits. Keywords: remittances, investments, migrants, México 1. Introduction In the Estado de México, located in the Center of the country of the same name, the international migration began from early last century in the rural villages, but from the years 1990´s it becomes in a work option for the urban people; in recent years, two thirds of international migrants in this State comes from this area. The fieldwork detected that who migrated to abroad between the years (2005-2010), had 28 years old on average, as well 9.2 degrees of schooling and diverse work experience. On average, in this State the eighty percent of the international migrants are males. Different economic and social causes, push and pull the international migration, but in some places like in the State´s South, the migration is an activity that is performed on a daily basis, as part of the local culture. The mexiquenses migrate in diverse ways, but almost all of them carry intentions of improve their livelihoods. The evidence shows that the remittances they send their houses, are spend in welfare (clothing, cars, furniture, house), and less than one third is invested in productive assets (business, animals, livestock, productive infrastructure). Some migrants invest in small business to strengthen their business spirit that had before of migrate, others do it for have an income source and have not to look for a job when they return. Sometimes they only can invest in activities that environment allow them, so, even if they wish to invest in something else they cannot do it for lack of suitable conditions. Some investments are made when migrants return, they take advantage of their experiences and learnings, other migrants invest while abroad, and some investments are made directly by the family in the village. A research performed in Tlalámac, in the Estado de México, indicates that between the years 1960-1970, there the red tomato was harvested in the backyards, but when migrants returned, they boosted this small production in commercial size. Now they hire immigrant workforce that comes from other States (Estrada, 2008). In Tenancingo, located at State´s South, most households have international migrants and there, eighty percent of the migrant households receive remittances; half of these are spent on food, education, health, housing and debt, but at least ten percent are invested in small business (Iglesias, 2014). In Tonatico, community in the State, which have a long history of international migration, where half its population is living in the United States. There, one- third of migrant households receive remittances.