Out-migration and cash transfers as a livelihoods adaptation to the droughts in the Seridó Potiguar

Abstract Based on an urban survey undertaken in 2017 and involving more than one thousand households in the Seridó Potiguar, in the Brazilian Semi-arid, this paper aims to analyze e objective of this paper is to understand how governmental social programs and migrant´s remittances have become a key household adaptation strategies to droughts. The methodology consists in descriptive statistics, and, tests of statistical sampling and differences among proportions. The results show a higher prevalence of remittances sent by emigrants to for families with lower income levels in the origin (until two minimum wages per capita), which represents a key component supporting for these families. Cash transfer programs were more important for families of smaller per capita incomes. This finding seems related to the concentration of population in the urban zone, although some advantages seem to exist regarding household strategies regarding the allocation of one or some of their members in urban labor markets in order to increase family income.