Mexico's uneven development : the geographical and historical context of inequality / Oscar J. Martínez.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Martínez, Oscar J. (Oscar Jáquez), 1943- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mexico--Economic conditions.

Mexico.

Economic conditions.

Mexico--Social conditions.

Social conditions.

Mexico--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Mexico--History.

History.

United States--Economic conditions.

United States.

United States--Social conditions.

Physical Description:

XX, 325 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016.

Summary:

"The main purpose of this book is to explain Mexico's substandard economic activity by applying the foundational factors approach primarily to Mexico and, for purposes of comparison, secondarily to the United States. The argument is that, unlike the United States, Mexico has been shaped by an inherently difficult context. Formidable environmental or geographic impediments in Mexico, that is, disadvantages linked to locational, climatic, and topographical circumstances have seriously thwarted domestic economic activity. Despite Mexico's robust natural endowment, shortages of key raw materials essential for agriculture and industry have held back production; and problematic population dynamics have had various negative impacts historically. Additionally, unfavorable external factors, such as disadvantageous international conditions and/or the existence of problematic interactions and unequal relationships with other countries, have impacted Mexico in an extraordinary manner. And finally, long-standing weaknesses in the structure of production and governance in Mexico have contributed to slow, inefficient, and uneven growth and have promoted the maldistribution of wealth. Institutions linked to such sectors as agriculture, mining, trade, commerce, and manufacturing have historically performed at subpar levels, while governance has been erratic and inefficient. Moreover, public policies have favored the rich and the powerful and have neglected the impoverished masses"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part I The Mexico-U.S. Divide 17

1 Divergent Pathways 19

2 Affluence and Poverty 53

Part II Context: Nature and People 69

3 The Power of Geography 71

4 Landforms, Transportation, and Cities 101

5 Mexico's Fabled "Riches" 138

6 People and the Economic Pie 162

Part III Context: External Relations 181

7 So Far, So Close 183

8 Chasing Capital 208

9 Legal and Illegal Trade 230

10 Drugs, Liquor, Tobacco, and Migrants 260.

Notes:

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business.

Date of publication in resource: 2016.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781138840232

1138840238

OCLC:

930034124