Issue The issue I’ve chosen to research is Poverty. Poverty has been a problem in all countries around the world. In different areas of the world it is taken either lighter or harsher. This is an issue that can never be demolished due to the effect it would have on the community, the area, and the surrounding areas also. With this change people would still live in low income because of the downward spin of money accumulation in the region itself.
Problem Who is Involved? People of all ages, races and genders can be involved in this torturous act. The number of people in extreme poverty came to 11.5 million by the end of 2012 which was an example of very poor use of resources and development of the community (Coehn). Some believe that a reason they could be living in poverty is because it is more expensive to ship to the U.S and other areas from the South. That is why there is more money going into the shipping than the people and crops of the country. The most undecided put probable problem could be the little spur for small business investment in the south because they are too poor. They are depending on the government for non-government issues (cuetzalÁn). What are the Poverty Rates in Mexico? Poverty rates in Mexico fluctuate depending on where you are in the country, for example in Zitlaltepec, which is located at the south end of Mexico, 86% are just considered poor and 30% are living in extreme poverty (Coehn). In the north, 12% of people in rural areas are extremely poor, against 47% in the south, according to the Woodrow Wilson Centre, a think-tank in Washington, DC. (cuetzalÁn and Oaxaca) This being said the north is much better off than the south which includes Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and parts of Puebla and Veracruz. With poverty levels being as they are, they are having fewer children. They have one or two children per family; therefore it is decreasing the population by 20% (Stratfor). “The salary of those in rural areas can be three to four times less than that of urban areas.” (Poverties). This shows how bad the poverty levels can get in some areas compared to others. The child poverty rates are seen fluctuating but the highest in Mexico which is a sign something needs to be change (Poverties). How do They Survive? The Mexican culture uses farming as an economic tool. The industry of farming and corn is being brought to a stop after allegations of way to low prices on farming industry. NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) is making it impossible to plant crop with the prices of corn so low at this point in time. One town in particular, Oaxaca, is beginning to be depopulated. Now it only has communities of those too old to work, and too young to work. The generation in between have gone searching in southern California for work where the farm labor force is up to 700,000 and Mexicans may make up majority in the near future. The Labor cost in California growers is low and the profits are high so they find it accessible for Mexican workers to come up and get money for their family by working in the fields. Even though they are at rock bottom wages for the most recent migrant workers they are still getting more than they would if they were to stay in Mexico for work. NAFTA was first established in 1993 where US congress debated and passed new trade agreements with Peru, Jordan, Chili, and Central America. Included in the NAFTA passage was the congress debate immigration policy which denied job rights or any equality with people living in the communities around them. The United States’ (US) agriculture has rose from $4.6 to $9.8 billion annually. The corn imports have rose from 2,014,000 to 10,330,000 tons from 1992 to 2008. The corn company is really in a good place because it is what all the Mexican farmers come to the US to farm for and they are getting more done for longer which is bringing in more money for everyone. (Stratfor). History of Poverty Mexico is at 40% of the population that is living under or on the poverty line with ten percent in extreme poverty. They have gone from 65% of extreme poverty in 1950 and then declining in the 1960s and remaining there until the mid-1990s at 20.25%. In the year of 1995 there was a crisis that brought the poverty line to an increase of extreme poverty at 35%. Poverty levels have been fluctuating since that last crisis, until the global financial crisis and drug cartels began. Although the rich are becoming richer, the poor are still becoming more poor which is a huge part of the poverty and economy of Mexico. Some say it’s been because of the drug cartels, some say it’s the governments way of responding to crisis, but no one is sure exactly what it can be, there is no one cause (Poverties). Significance Poverty is a significant issue. Not only does it leave people regretting the past decisions they have made but it also harms the whole family matter being around twenty million children under the age of eighteen, nearly 53% are living in poverty. Victims of this crisis range all ages, races, and genders (Yucatan times). Though child poverty has declined in recent years it is still a very serious issue. Conclusions Through my research on the issue of poverty in Mexico I have concluded that my case study was extremely successful. Based on a deep examination of this investigation I conclude that this is important because:
Poverty is a significant issue
Causes
The government has become a large source for resources and the poverty levels have struck higher with the government starting NAFTA.
The lack of education in Mexico’s area has affected how they can pursue on with their lives after schooling.
It’s more expensive to ship to the U.S. from southern Mexico making it more poor because there putting all their money into shipping products.
Effects
Drug cartels will continue to expand and drug abuse will continue to be a problem.
Mexicans are immigrating to the US to find better work and the middle class is disappearing leaving only poor and rich.
The wages are still shrinking due to the NAFTA regulations.
Recommendations Based on a thorough investigation I conclude:
Laws be in act to help the poverty levels decrease to a steady middle class
Invest in agriculture to decrease the poverty levels (Kline).
Make the immigration process easier for all people trying to look for work.
Action Steps My implication will include the following:
To write a letter explaining the effected humans in the country of Mexico. This letter will be written to the United States Ambassador of Mexico addressing the laws that are not being taken advantage of and issues that should become a law.
Writing a letter to the President of Mexico explaining directly the problem that The United States sees with the immigration laws that have been put in place.
Poverty is seen throughout the world and yet I am dumbfounded by the fact that people are unable to keep at a steady income. Humans all over can’t help this conflict unless the government can succeed in the poverty level declines and if they can do this they can solve many poverty problems. Annotated Bibliography "Farming Recommendations for Poverty- The Borgen Project." The Borgen Project RSS2. N.p., 30 June 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.
In This article they explain the causes and effects of people who live on small amounts of money a day and try to fend for themselves to keep their families in good hands. They are constantly trying to find ways for the people especially farmers. This article focuses not only on Mexico but all rural areas affected by the poverty levels and the farming industries not very high and prices being too low for all the people in that area. This isn’t just a problem in Mexico as is shown in this article. The quality of this article is non bias and shows the perspective of both the farmers and the industries and how they both feel about what is going on in this situation around the world.
Fincher, Ernest Barksdale. Mexico and the United States, Their Linked Destinies. New York: Crowell, 1983. Print.
E. B Fincher’s book describes in depth situations that include illegals, criminals and refugees, migrant workers and many other subjects that tie America and Mexico together and how they are set apart. They explain the American border patrol and how they control the border between Mexico and America. The information involved in this is all factual and there are sources in the back of this book to explain and get further information regarding this subject matter. The book is more about the migraters and how they cross the border to get to work. They could be bias because it is taking the Mexican side of things and their perspective viewing the American side. Being bias can lead to good things though because you can review both sides and fight for both of them and explain why there could be bias productivity.
Globalization and NAFTA Caused Migration from Mexico | Political Research Associates." Political Research Associates. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
This article written by David Bacon shows the publics eye of how NAFTA has changed through the decades after promising a first world status. He explains why people are migrating back to the United States for work just as every other site has done and explains how they can get back on track with their poverty level fluctuation. He mainly focuses on Oaxaca and how they are being affected by this crisis. They use exact quotes from others and show how they are supported always by data. They say California’s farm force is about 700,000 which will almost be entirely made up of Oaxacan migrants in the near future. NAFTA has continuously said they would better the economy in Mexico but has just brought people to poverty and others are still in good like people in the north who have enough money to keep their homes and family in good hands.
"Globalization and Poverty in Mexico." Globalization and Poverty in Mexico. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
The article written by Matthew Davis explaining how they are lacking money in the south more than the north shows that the poverty is inclining and the people in Mexico are declining because they have to search for jobs in California where they can actually make money for their families. I would take this article as a very un-bias because they show where they get their numbers and information. The information that is involved is completely showing the emotion of how people are living with this the globalization is being brought to a close and bringing more people into the U.S. Their poverty levels are higher than ever with the tariff cutting and elimination of restrictions on trade. Matthew Davis’ colleague Hanson takes notes and studies by using different sources to explain why he thinks that the poverty and globalization is declining but the economy in the north is living up to standards.
"IMF Survey : Mexico’s Economy Shows Steady Growth Fueled by Key Reforms." IMF Survey : Mexico’s Economy Shows Steady Growth Fueled by Key Reforms. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
In this article there are surveys that can take everyone’s bias opinions and sum up the research they have done according to money and how they stay alive in their economic crisis. Some are bias depending on what the topic of the question is and I am not sure who wrote it because it was a corporation as a whole asking questions to others about how they reacted to the crisis happening in Mexico. It is recent and it explains in detail why Mexico is being put in poverty so deeply. This article links trade with immigration and explains how NAFTA being passed has persuaded people to leave and go to the states for a better working business and being paid for their work on the farms. Trade and immigration are being reformed with a passing of IRCA in 1986 which is Immigration Reform and Control Act.
Landes, David S. "20." The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are so Rich and Some so Poor. New York: W.W. Norton, 1998. N. pag. Print.
Chapter 20 of : The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are so Rich and Some so Poor They explain how Mexico and South America as a whole has come about since the seventeenth century. They show how some can be in such riches when others are in such poverty and can’t stay out of poverty without moving away and finding best for their families. The globalization in these areas is so bad that you can’t stay in one place for a long amount of time. It shows the data over the years of the crisis going on and the numbers of people migrating in and out.
"Mexico: Economy." GlobalEDGE: Your Source for Global Business Knowledge. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
This MSU article has been incredibly helpful in searching for graphs and information that leads to different information with links. The author is unknown but yet they have put a lot of information into this and follow it up with statements explaining how they came up with that information. The graphs include the GDP, the inflation within the last 5 years, and how much they import and how they can fluctuate as a whole. They are not as bias as other sites because they have the facts and show how they are supported including numbers and data rich information. The labor force has inclined in the last 5 years by 3 million from 2010-2013 which is a waste of time because more people need jobs to pay for things but there is not enough money to give to their families to live and survive on their own.
NAFTA’s Legacy for Mexico: Economic Displacement, (n.d.): n. pag. NAFTA's Legacy for Mexico. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.
"Population Decline and the Great Economic Reversal." Stratfor. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
The article by George Friedman explains how the economy is reversing in most places except for the United States which is always climbing up. They explain the universial economics and how they differ from the United States but they also explain the birth rate in mexico and how that has gone down because an 8 kid family will be in complete and helplessness if they are to have all those kids so they lower their kid rate to 1-2 kids so they can stay on the economic poverty level. They are not being bias because they give explanation and show how that will work for them and how it differs from other places. The information is to find quality to others and to find out why.
"Poverty in Mexico: Economic Crises and 21st Century Welfare." Poverties.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
This article, written by an unknown author, they go into deep detail about social spending and how they can improve the living of others without effecting the rest of the people who are in good standings. They show the history of the poverty levels, the growth and poverty, in other words globalization, of the Mexico region and the economics that are handled in this fact. Information Quality is seen throughout the whole paper as it is not bias. It could use more work citations to show where they got their information since it does not say anything on that but non bias writing and making sure the information is correct was a way they show the information quality.
"Poverty in the U.S. Spikes." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
Villarreal, M. A. The Mexican Economy After the Global Financial Crisis. Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center, 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
This article explains the situations that everyone has been going through while trying to stay up on the charts. It shows the effects of the financial crisis and the violence that has struck since the uplifting of the economy. Mexico has the potential for growth but a lower poverty rate is very limited says the website because of the “implementing substantial structural reforms.” The information given in this article is very useful and at the end of the article it gives its own sources to back up what they said so it is not bias and when it is it has things to back it up which makes it very easy to use as a source.
"With A Declining Economy And Divided Politics, Can Mexico Go Back To The Hopeful Nation It Was 12 Months Ago?" International Business Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
In Patricia Rey Mallen’s article she explains to the readers that the economy is struggling and in need of help or else Mexico is going be for young people and very old people who cannot work. This article is usable because it gives nice data and it explains what Mexico’s daily struggle is. It shows the data with explanations and the history of each of them. The information that is involved in this is completely related to the Mexicans struggle and shows the percent of people in the whole from the economy. I would say that this is data rich and they try to stay un bias and just show information. They introduce how economy is declining and how it is going to impact the Mexican people as a whole. It is leaving people to go up to California and find work because the crops are so cheap when you sell you cant make profit off of them to support your family.
Poverty levels sky rocket as you get farther from the boarder of the U.S.A