Understanding the Mexican Economy

Roy Boyd is a Professor of Economics at Ohio University. He received his BA in economics from the University of New Mexico, and he received his MA and PhD in economics from Duke University. His areas of specialty include resource economics, international trade, and Computable General Equilibrium Modeling.María E. Ibarrarán is the Director of the Xabier Gorostiaga Institute for Environmental Reseach at Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla. She obtained her Ph.D. in Geography and the M.A.in Energy and Environmental Studies from Boston University, as well as a B.A. in Economics from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.Roberto Vélez Grajalez is the executive director of Centro de Estudios Espinosa Yglesias in Mexico City. He received his undergraduate training at UDLAP in Puebla and received doctoraltraining in Economic History at Oxford University. He has written extensively on the topics of human development and intergenerational social mobility.

• Introduction Chapter 1. A Brief History and Geographical Overview of Mexico Chapter 2. The Extraction of Natural Resources and Precious Metals Chapter 3. Shades and colors: The Demographic and Cultural Landscape Chapter 4. Long-term dynamics of Well-Being Chapter 5. Social mobility: The Result of Standing Inequalities Chapter 6. An Economic Model of Mexico (and the US) Chapter 7. Trade Policy: Liberalization and Protectionism Chapter 8. Energy Reform and Climate Change Policy Chapter 9. Economic Stagnation in Mexico and Immigration to the United States Chapter 10. Institutional Weakness and the Spread of Drugs and ViolenceConcluding Remarks

This scholarly study examines historical and contemporary factors affecting the Mexican economy. Data are analyzed using several modeling techniques, including a specifically designed computer model. The book begins by overviewing the demographic and cultural landscape, natural resources and precious metals, and social mobility. Subsequent chapters address issues including economic incentives, international trade, and migration, in addition to energy reform and climate change policy. Some other areas examined are poverty, the informal economy, the war on drugs, and America immigration policy. B&w maps, charts, and graphs are included.