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Mexican Economic Development : 1940-2006. “The Mexican Miracle”. 1940-1980 Remarkable growth Annual Avg. GDP Growth=6.5% Reasons for Success Government stability Oil Revenue Emphasis on Industrialization Subsidies for domestic industries Import Substitution High tariffs
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“The Mexican Miracle” • 1940-1980 • Remarkable growth • Annual Avg. GDP Growth=6.5% • Reasons for Success • Government stability • Oil Revenue • Emphasis on Industrialization • Subsidies for domestic industries • Import Substitution • High tariffs • Nationalization of industry. • Oil, railroad, electricity, & thousands of companies.
Parastatal • Company or agency owned (or partially owned) by the government. • By 1980, the government controlled over 1,000 firms. • PEMEX (Mexican Petroleum) • Net worth of $415 billion • Employs approx 140,000
Mexican Debt Crisis, 1980s-90s • WHAT WERE THE CAUSES? • WHY DID THE U.S. WANT TO HELP?
Mexican Debt Crisis, 1980s-90s CAUSES • Heavy borrowing to industrialize caused Foreign Debt • Gambled on high oil prices • 1980s: Prices DROPPED • Import Substitution=Industrial inefficiency • Uncompetitive in global market • Led to a trade deficit • Runaway Inflation: 1987=159% Total Debt 1970=6 billion 1982=80 billion 1976=26 billion 1987=107 billion (70% of GNP)
Bailout of 1995 • International investors withdrew $5 billion from Mexican market. • Lacked ability to pay debt. • Borrowed $50 billion from IMF and the U.S.
PRI Becomes Market-Oriented New policies of Late ‘80s through ‘90s. • Debt Reduction • Austerity Measures • Cut deficit in half in 3 years. • Raised taxes • Reduced social services • Privatization • Sold parastatals • Only about 100 left today.
Opening Up the Economy • Protectionism to neoliberalism • Import substitution to structural adjustment • Allow FDI. • 1986: Joined General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) • Precursor to WTO. • Diversified exports (not just oil) • 1992: Signed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • United States, Mexico and Canada • Eliminate tariff barriers • Greatly reduce other barriers (i.e., licensing fees and quotas for foreign companies)
Maquiladoras • Foreign-owned factories in Mexico. • Goods are imported to Mexico. • Made in Mexico. • Then exported. • Largely located in North
Zapatistas • State of Chiapas • Indigenous Mayan farmers Concerns • Abject poverty • Few elite controlled arable land (seized ejidos) • NAFTA • Ended ejidos • PRI “Democracy” • No self-rule • Elite land owners and PRI
Zapatistas • Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) • Subcomandante Marcos • January 1, 1994 (NAFTA enacted) • EZLN seized 6 towns • Mexican army clashed with EZLN • Cease fire after 12 days • Approx. 200-400 died. • San Andres Accords, 1996 • Protect indigenous languages • Greater local autonomy • NEVER IMPLEMENTED • Few EZLN goals realized