Measuring up : a history of living standards in Mexico, 1850-1950 / Moramay Lopez-Alonso.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

López-Alonso, Moramay.

Series:

Social Science History

Social science history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cost and standard of living--Mexico--History.

Cost and standard of living.

Stature--Mexico--History.

Stature.

Diet--Mexico--History.

Diet.

Public health--Mexico--History.

Public health.

Public welfare--Mexico--History.

Public welfare.

Poverty--Mexico--History.

Poverty.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (299 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Stanford, California : Stanford University Press, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Measuring Up traces the high levels of poverty and inequality that Mexico faced in the mid-twentieth century. Using newly developed multidisciplinary techniques, the book provides a perspective on living standards in Mexico prior to the first measurement of income distribution in 1957. By offering an account of material living conditions and their repercussions on biological standards of living between 1850 and 1950, it sheds new light on the life of the marginalized during this period. Measuring Up shows that new methodologies allow us to examine the history of individuals who were not integrated into the formal economy. Using anthropometric history techniques, the book assesses how a large portion of the population was affected by piecemeal policies and flaws in the process of economic modernization and growth. It contributes to our understanding of the origins of poverty and inequality, and conveys a much-needed, long-term perspective on the living conditions of the Mexican working classes.

Contents:

Front matter

contents

illustrations

acknowledgments

acronyms

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Ideas Behind the Making of Welfare Institutions

Chapter 2. Welfare as Charity

Chapter 3. Welfare as Public Policy

Chapter 1. The Measure of Well-Being and Growth

Chapter 2. The Tall or Short of It

Chapter 1. Health and Nutrition: The History

Chapter 2. Health and Nutrition: The Data Analysis

Overview and Final Conclusions

appendix

notes

bibliography

index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780804782852

0804782857

OCLC:

809977876