Why is it so difficult for Mexico to elevate out of "third world" existence?

Answer 1

Because all of it's citizens are living & working in the US pumping up it's economy instead of their homeland.

Answer 2

Corruption keeps Mexico in third world status.

You'd expect that a young, cheap workforce would attract a lot of foreign investment, but a lot of businesses don't want the hassle of having to bribe every two-bit government official. In Mexico, you walk into an office just to get something stamped. It should be a 5 second process. It's just a formality. The official will point at two piles of paper on his desk. One with only a few sheets, and one that looks like it's been there since the Nixon administration. He will ask you, in which pile do you want your application to go?

Businesses can't function like this. Neither can governments.

Mexico has no excuse for being poor. It has lots of natural resources, such as natural gas and oil, a young, plentiful workforce, two coastlines that can handle millions of tourists, and a strategically advantageous location. Mexico should be considerably wealthier than Canada, not the other way around.

Answer 3

In the first place, although Mexico may appear to be a "third world" (read "poor") country when it is compared to a "first world" (read "filthy rich") United States, it is actually doing rather well for itself compared with the rest of the world. Think of Mexico as a middle-manager who makes $70,000 per year, while the United States is more akin to Bill Gates. Most of the rest of the world is flipping burgers at McDonalds.

That said, the two largest bariers Mexico has to greater prosperity are probably: 1. Economic polarization (i.e. the fact that there are a small number of REALLY rich people, a large number of REALLY poor people, and not many in between), and; 2. Official corruption (Pachl elaberated on that problem every bit as well as I possibly could).

Answer 4

I hope the country is coming out of that. In the next five years I hope that Mexico becomes more economically powerful. When I look at Mexico I see great potential for growth and think it has Ireland like potential for its economy to grow.

Answer 5

In a word: Corruption.

Mexico is one of the most corrupt states in North America. It won't elevate out of there third world existence until they stop the cycle of corruption which permeates their every existence.

Answer 6

My guess would be they are confused. We see illegal Mexicans in the US demanding rights!! That of course is foolish and falls on deaf ears! They need to go back home and demand rights, and work for change in their own government. Then and only then will they have a base in which to grow.

Answer 7

They work and send the money home. Plus what do they make that the rest of the world wants?

Answer 8

It's because the government is corrupt and in bed with the drug cartels. The people don't get the benefits we do from halfway decent government.

Answer 9

keeping the poor dependent on the USA is working for those in charge

Answer 10

The leaders have all the riches