Mexico Public Policy

Leila Bartholet

Overview

Economic Reforms Human Rights/Corruption

-“Mexican Miracle” -In prisons, journalism, and in general

- De La Madrid

Foreign Policy Drug War-Trade and Tariffs -background

-Immigration -policy options

Political Reforms-Election Reforms

-Vicente Fox

Economic Reforms; Mexican MiraclePros--Annual growth rate from 1940-70: 6.5%-Annual growth rate for agricultural: 2.4% Annual growth rate for manufacturing: 8%-Growth occurred without much inflationCons-- gap between rich and poor grew- Mexico’s income distribution was one of the most unequal of all the LDCs-Rapid urbanization-Led to an economic crash-$107 billion debt

Economic Reform; De La Madrid-Cuts in government spending

jobs cut

public enterprises were eliminated

-Debt reduction:

US gave more generous pay back amounts

created a reliance

-Privatization:

gave up economic power

privatized public enterprises

-Most dramatic economic turnarounds in modern history.

-Present Miguel De la Madrid through Zedillo

-Some people agree with the reform, some don’t

-52% of the Mexican population is below the poverty line.

Foreign Policy; trade and tariffs-After 1982, to increase economic growth, Mexico started getting rid of restrictions and

reducing/eliminated tariffs.

GATT/WTO-

-General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

-1986

-promotes trade

NAFTA-

-it eliminates tariffs, and reduces restrictions

-increases reliance on US

Foreign Policy; Immigration-Vicente Fox pushed to reduce immigration tension between Mexico and US

-He proposed an agreement that would create an overall more open border

guest worker programs

increase visas issued

amnesty of illegal immigrants

-In return, Fox would tighten the Mexican border

- after September 11th, the plan fell through

Political Reforms; ElectionsIn 1974, the IFE (Federal Election Commission) was created in order to create fair

elections.

- Campaign finance restrictions

- Media coverage

- International watch teams

- Election monitoring

-1994 and 2000: the most fair and competitive elections in Mexico

-Fox: replacing a 71-year PRI dominance

Political Reforms; Vicente FoxFox’s goals-

Decentralization:

-moved from national to state and local

-for example, education and health decisions

Electoral Reform:

-Carried out the past electoral reforms.

Rule of Law:

-tried to change the administration of the judicial system

-corruption made it very challenging

Anti-narcotics:

-tried to reduce demand

-didn’t work

Human Rights Corruption-45 complaints regarding unlawful killings

-6 men shot at birthday celebration

-52 complaints regarding forced disappearances

-1,642 complaints of cruel or degrading treatments

20 of them being torture

-prisons are 25.8% above capacity

-prisoners must often bribe officers for food or medicine

-attacks on journalists, censorship, and threats

-2 journalists arrested for “abusing freedom of speech”

-average person spends 14% of income on bribes

-80% of people believe there is a serious corruption problem

Drug War; background-US is very involved in Mexico’s drug war

between $19 and $29 billion annually

-Drug trades employ half a million people in Mexico

-Calderon: massive crackdown on users

47,515 deaths

3,000 police deaths

Drug War; policy optionsVicente Fox option 1- decrease/eliminate drug demand in Mexico and in the US

doesn’t work

Decriminalization option 2- can’t be arrested for possession

portugal and Australia

puts more drugs in the hands of users

“High value” option 3- focus on the “high value” people involved

big users and big dealers

Calderon option 4- focus on the users

small deals

military action on streets

http://www.cfr.org/mexico/mexicos-drug-war/p13689

What option do you think would work best, and why?

You may create your own option.