Why is the economy so poor in Mexico if they are such hard workers?

Question

Instead of trying to come over to the U.S., shouldn't they try to improve the situation in their own country first?

Answer 1

I wondered this myself when I first visited Mexico years ago. I believe the answer is that in Mexico too much of the real political and economic power are in the hands of a few family/cartels.

Graft and corruption permeates the government from its highest levels down to the street level cops. Almost any power the government has is either up for sale or controlled by these cartels (e.g. cartel tells senator to vote certain way on issue or they'll kill his family).

Think about how the U.S. would be if the Mafia actually controlled major business and government. That's kind of how Mexico is. The result is severe limitations on the progress that can be made by individuals.

On a small scale, think about an entreprenuer that wants to start a business but needs to get a bank loan against the equity in his home to have the money to open his business. If the cartel sees the business as a threat to their revenue stream, they'll have the government take the guy's house so the bank has no collateral to lend against. Boom. No progress made. Competition is stifled.

Answer 2

Yes they should but their government is a socialistic government that takes money and does even less then ours. Next corruption in Mexico goes from the top down. Every thing involves bribes. Like many Latin American countries the people are represented by thugs who are only looking to line their own pockets. Instead of using the election process many times they turn to violence and revolution.
The USA also has interests in Mexico with cheap labor and the chance to make money there and provide decent work for decent pay for Mexican labor. The problem comes with the alliances the US makes with the wealthy who exploit the poor Mexican worker and thug unions who line their pockets with bribes. The US ends up caught in the middle and looking like the bad guy. Mexico is a complex quagmire of blatant stupidity compounded by ignorance greed and violence. Who of any character willing to work hard for an even break wouldn't want to leave? That's why the hardest workers and most up right are generally the ones who come here work and make a life for themselves. These are people we should welcome. Yes a few bad guys come here but we just send them back. Work permits would solve this problem. Unless you want to come pick grapes for me at my vineyard?

Answer 3

Apparently the situation for the most part is not easily fixable. It's a scary place to live these days what with all the gangs, violence, drugs, corruption, etc....some would argue this is a big reason why so many people are trying to illegally enter our country...better opportunity, safer, etc. The big unfortunate in this is that not only are people who are truly seeking a better life entering the U.S., but Mexican gangs are really surging in the U.S. And we're talking not just in states close to Mexico...but no, we're talking all over (I'm in the SE Michigan, NW Ohio area...and yeah, it's getting more prevalant here).

Answer 4

Because the hard workers all come here to work.

The economy in mexico is set up to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. The oportunities are not available like they are here in America.

Our Government needs to put preasure on the government of mexico to give opportunities to the mexican people so they can stay in Mexico

Answer 5

A very small percentage of the people control a large percentage of the Mexican wealth. This is due to change in the next several years as the American middle class declines and the Mexican middle class increases due to NAFTA outsourcing of middle class American jobs. This was done to take advantage of the low wages in Mexico and other Central and South American Countries and to increase the wealth of the American wealthy class. Ross Perot was very prophetic when he said,"the sucking sound that you hear is the sound of American jobs going south".

Answer 6

That's a good question. I know lots of Mexicans who are very hard working, so I don't know what's up with that. You make a very good point. Maybe we should find out why the Mexican government isn't doing right by their people. But, who would do it? How can you tell another government to stop being stupid about how they run their economy? Yes, I realize that things must be pretty bad down there for many of their citizens to be willing to risk life and limb to get out. Maybe someone has a solution to this situation. <*)))><

Answer 7

US is the land of opportunity. It is not only Mexico but hundreds of countrys' peoples are coming here to make their future. It is very hard to improve central core by few citizens.

Answer 8

The average monthly income per family in Mexico is about $900.

75% of its GDP is in the service sector.

The rich are very rich, and there is a very small middle class.

Answer 9

Well, the Mexican government is a corrupt POS, pardon, and they don't think much of trying to repair their country.

Answer 10

the answer is not so simple, unfortunatly the government is very corrupt, with an imbalance of the distribution of wealth.