Mexico: International Relations

International trade is very important to Mexico. Interestingly enough, one of Mexico’s most frequent trade partners is the United States. According to the International Trade Study (researched by ING economists), the top nine goods imported to Mexico are all of United States origin. These goods include the following: Office, telecom, and electrical equipment ($43560 million); Fuels ($23333 million); Chemicals ($21930 million); Industrial machinery ($19716 million); Road vehicles and transport equipment ($18726 million); Basic food and food products ($16731 million); Other products ($12757 million); Other manufacturers ($12482 million); Ores and metals ($10993 million). Additionally, the tenth largest flow of imports consists of office, telecom, and electrical equipment from China ($9134 million). 

While international imports are key to the economy of Mexico, Mexican export goods are also significant. Similar to imported goods, the most frequent recipient of exports from Mexico is the United States. According to the International Trade Study (researched by ING economists), the top ten goods exported from Mexico are destined for the United States. These goods include the following: Office, telecom, and electrical equipment ($77233 million); Road vehicles and transport equipment ($48904 million); Fuels ($45702 million); Industrial machinery ($25178 million); Other products ($21689 million); Basic food and food products ($14025 million); Ores and metals ($10021 million); Other manufactures ($9952 million); Textiles ($6100 million); Chemicals ($5175 million). 

In terms of the exchange rate in Mexico, here are the recent details from the CIA World Factbook: 

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar 
12.76 (2013 est.)
13.17 (2012 est.)
12.636 (2010 est.)
13.514 (2009)
11.016 (2008)

Many individuals from Mexico are migrants. It’s been estimated that 11% of Mexico’s native individuals are living abroad. 97% of these emigrants currently reside in the US, which means there are more than 12 million migrants from Mexico living in America. These migrants may have crossed the border legally or illegally.

In regard to immigration, it has been estimated that approximately 75% of indigenous Mexican emigrants originate in the United States. However, emigration from Mexico is much more frequent than immigration to Mexico.

When considering the international relations of Mexico, the United States plays a large role. Following the historical Mexican War of Independence, the Mexican government realized the importance of promoting positive relationships with America, mostly for trade purposes. Mexico also maintains positive relationships with a variety of other bi-lateral countries and more. Within the Mexican border, however, the government continues to fight a substantial war on the market of illegal drugs. Over 34,612 individuals have been reportedly killed in Mexico throughout the past four years. These individuals include suspected drug-gang members, members of security forces, and persons considered innocent bystanders. 

"A Fez of the Heart" - Reading Response

Over time, the Turkish town of Pomegranate developed into a major tourist attraction. At first, the town was strict and traditional. However, as time passed, the town became more invested in modern (Western) culture. I found it interesting that, in the “Westernizing years of the 1930s”, it was decreed that all Turkish citizens were to be counted as part of a census. This is interesting to me because of it’s initial failure. The original census attempt was not successful, because of the confusion surrounding the Turks’ patronymics. Before the next census was attempted, it was required of all Turks to assign themselves a surname. These surnames would serve to aid the completion of the census. It’s especially interesting to note that this was one of the first times that a census was attempted for Turkish citizens, and it demonstrates a step towards economic and societal development.

As Pomegranate developed into a popular tourist destination, the citizens were forced to relinquish many aspects of their culture in place of more modern attractions. It’s said that “on the main street, the incursions of English and German had rendered Turkish a minority language.” The text even goes on to state that Turkish food was replaced with other cuisines such as hamburgers. “Turkish food could only hold it’s own by being touted as a gastronomic heritage experience.” Additionally, the original music that was played in the village was replaced with European popular music and the previously unwanted bikini-wearing tourists were now the center of attention. This passage illustrates that the economics of tourism forced these Turkish villagers to focus more on the culture of their visitors instead of their own. Since the culture of the tourists was more economically profitable than the traditional pomegranate culture, the Turks were forced to give up their traditions and cater to the European tourists.

Beyond this specific example of this Turkish town, it’s obvious that tourism can have a positive effect on economics while remaining detrimental to the traditional culture of the village. I believe that in this example of the Turkish village, the people were forced to give up their own culture in order to profit from the tourism. This is both a connection and a conflict, as relinquishing ones’ own culture for economic purposes is not positive. 

Mexico: Tourism

1. Tourism is extremely important to Mexico. In 2013, tourism was reported as the fifth-largest revenue source for Mexico and remains an extremely important economic sector. According to a financial study done by JP Morgan Chase, tourism in Mexico generated $12.7 billion in 'foreign exchange inflows' during 2012. It's interesting to note that the number of tourists in Mexico continues to grow, regardless of the increase in drug-related violence throughout Mexico. In fact, Mexico is often the most frequently visited country by Americans. In 2011, there were approximately 22 million tourists that visited Mexico. 


"In August 2011 Mexico saw an increased number of visitors from 145 countries around the world (year on year)."

• Brazil (59.5%)         Russia (55%)         Ecuador (29.6%)        Australia (22.6%)

• Argentina (21%)     UK(19.6%)             Korea (18.9%)            Chile (15.9%)

• Peru (15.1%)           China (14.2%)       Italy (13.1%)               Japan (10.6%)

• Canada (9.2%)        Colombia (8.7%)"

2. There is a variety of major tourist attractions in Mexico. Many people and their families travel to the country in search of beach resort destinations or other relaxing atmospheres. Locations such as Cancun and Rivera Maya have been rated some of the top vacation destinations by leading travel companies. There are many city destinations in Mexico that are attractive to tourists. These cities include Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Morelia. Also, beaches such as Cabo San Lucas are also very popular. In addition to vacation destinations, there are also many aspects of history and culture that are attractive to tourists. In the central and southern parts of Mexico, it's possible to visit ancient Meso-American ruins.

3. Mexico is home to large amounts of national parks and wildlife. There are more than sixty federally-recognized national wildlife parks within the country of Mexico. These areas are home to many species of plants and animals. In addition to these national parks, there is also a substantial collection of "Reserves of the Biosphere". For example, the Scorpion Reef is the largest reef within the Gulf of Mexico, and it is a Reserve of the Biosphere. The reef contains five different islands, but only one is inhabited. This reef is one of the largest national parks in Mexico. 


4. History and culture are very important within the country of Mexico. Therefore, there are countless museums within the country. However, some of the most significant museums are located in Mexico City. The National Anthropology Museum of Mexico is located in Mexico City. Also in the City there is the National Art Museum, the National Modern Art Museum, and the National History Museum. Interestingly enough, Mexico City itself is a very popular museum destination and is home to over 100 museums.

Mexico: Economics

MEXICO 

GDP: $1.845 trillion (2013 estimate)

GDP per capita: $15,600 (2013 estimate)

Life expectancy at birth: 75.43 years

Poverty rate: 52.3% of individuals are below the poverty line

Literacy rate of total population: 93.5% (individuals 15 years old or older can read and write)

Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2013 estimate)

Inflation rate for consumer prices: 4% (2013 estimate)

1. Natural Resources

The environment of Mexico is very interesting. In terms of climate, it varies from tropical conditions to barren deserts. Due to the wide variety of climate conditions, the amount of rainfall will fluctuate depending on location. About 13% of land in Mexico is arable land, and an additional 1.36% of land in Mexico holds permanent crops. The crop known as ‘Corn’ is thought to have originated in Mexico. On Mexican soil, water takes up 20,430 square kilometers. In addition to the rivers and bodies of water within Mexico’s borders, Mexico is largely surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean. Significant mineral deposits don’t frequently exist in Mexico.

2. Labor

In Mexico, the labor force was estimated to include 51.48 million individuals in 2013. In terms of the Mexican educational system, 5.1% of the GDP was allocated towards educational expenditures in 2009. The expectancy of school life is approximately 13 years, as estimated in 2011. 

3. Capital

Mexican industries include the following categories of food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron & steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, and tourism. The Mexican economy is growing more and more dependent on the private sector. In recent years, the government of Mexico has increased their level of seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Unfortunately, the GDP growth has slowed to a rate of just more than 1% in 2013.

Mexico: News Summary 1

On Thursday, April 3, 2014, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a free-trade agreement with Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli. The official signing of this agreement occurred during the Latin American World Economic Forum in Panama City. This free-trade agreement is expected by some to improve the amount of opportunities for smaller businesses within the Mexican private sector. These improvements could also lead to the acceptance of Panama into the Pacific Alliance free-trade region. Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Chile are all a part of the Pacific Alliance. Although Panama is not yet included in the Alliance, they are still involved and receive exports from Mexico such as medicine, televisions, steel, and automobiles. 

This new agreement can be related to the broad economic concepts of supply and demand. The agreement will promote a substantial increase in the level of trade between Mexico and Panama. For smaller businesses especially, this is an opportunity for significant growth. “Without a doubt [the amount of trade] will be widely increased once the productive sectors in both countries can start taking advantage of this commercial opening; it will be easier to move people, goods and capital into both countries.” This relates directly to supply and demand. With more options for suppliers as part of the free-trade agreement, both the supply and demand graphs could be affected. 


Before this agreement was signed, however, Mexico and Panama were not necessarily frequent trade partners. Therefore, this lack of trade frequency was problematic. This led the leaders of each country to realize the potential of a free trading system between their respective industries. The solution to this problem was to author a trade agreement between the Mexican and Panamanian government. Due to the free-trade agreement, these countries may experience significant economic improvement.

Mexico: Culture

1. Popular sports

In Mexico there are several popular sports. While “Charrería” is Mexico’s national sport, similar to rodeo bullfighting, association football (soccer) is the most popular. Second to soccer, boxing is also very popular in Mexico. In the regions to the northwest and southeast, baseball is popular. The sports of basketball, “lucha libre", and bullfighting are also significantly popular. Since soccer is the most popular sport, there are many popular soccer teams or clubs. The first Mexican football (soccer) club is called C.F. Pachuca, and this club still exists. Some of Mexico’s most successful football clubs include Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Club Amèrica, Toluca, and Cruz Azul. 

2. Music

There are a variety of popular and traditional music genres in Mexico. Music in Mexico has received influence from many different cultures, especially cultures of indigenous Mexicans and Europeans. In terms of traditional music, the genre of traditional folk music is the most prevalent. For the popular music category, there are many important genres. These genres include Latin alternative, Mexican ska, Rock, Pop, Electronic, Bolero, Cumbia, Jazz, and Classical. Some of the most well known performers of Mexican popular music include Luis Miguel, Alejandro Fernández, Selena, Thalía, Paulina Rubio, Alejandra Guzmán, Gloria Trevi and Marco Antonio Solís.

3. Food

Food is an important part of Mexican culture. Mexican cuisine includes indigenous Mesoamerican themes with Spanish and European elements. Basic ingredients include corn, beans, and chili peppers. The Europeans have introduced a great deal of other foods, especially the meat from domestic animals, dairy products, and a variety of herbs and spices. Mexican street cuisine is very popular, and includes foods such as tacos, quesadillas, pambazos, tamales, huaraches, and alambres. 

4. Major religions and/or spiritual beliefs

There is no official religion in Mexico, as the constitution enforces a separation of church and state. The Catholic Church is most dominant in Mexico, with other forms of Christianity being the second most popular. It’s estimated that between two and five million Mexicans are members of the catholic church. In addition to other forms of Christianity, trends of Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism have made appearances through conversions and immigrations.

5. National holidays and traditional customs

In Mexico, Christmas is a national holiday and schools are given vacation time during Easter and Christmas. On September 16th, Mexicans celebrate their independence from Spain with a variety of festivals nationwide. Additional national celebrations include La Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Day), Las Posadas (The Shelters), Noche Buena (Holy Night), and Año Nuevo (New Years Day). 

6. Popular TV shows or movies

Mexican cinema is not as historically prevalent as American movies and TV. However, the recent generations of movies, known as Nueva Cine Mexicano, is very popular. Some of the most popular films in this group include Solo con tu pareja (1991), Como agua para chocolate (1992), Cronos (1992), El callejón de los milagros (1995), Profundo carmesí (1996), Sexo, pudor y lágrimas (1999), The Other Conquest (2000), and La Misma Luna (2006). Some popular Mexican film stars include Ramón Novarro, Dolores del Río, Lupe Vélez, Gilbert Roland, and Pedro Armendáriz. 

7. Online news sources

There are many sources for online news in Mexico. Here are some popular websites for news. Esmas.com, El Universal (http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/), Milenio.com, Televisa Deportes (televisadeportes.com), and mediatiempo.com. A list of 20 popular online news websites can be found at http://www.allyoucanread.com/mexican-newspapers/.

8. Online forums for expatriates

There are many sources for online forums for Mexican expatriates. Some of these forums can be found at the following websites: www.expatforum.com, www.alloexpat.com/mexico_expat_forum/, www.internations.org/mexico-expats, www.expatriates.com, and many additional websites.

9. Type of Government

The government in Mexico is classified as a ‘federal presidential representative democratic republic’ based on a congressional system. The federal government that represents the United Mexican States is divided into the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. Currently, the president of Mexico is named Enrique Peña Nieto. There are seven major political parties within Mexico. These parties include the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the National Action Party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution, the Labor Party, the Green Ecological Party, the Convergence Party, and the New Alliance.

Reinventing the Bazaar: Chapter Two

1. Throughout the first chapter of his book, Reinventing the Bazaar, John McMillan lists and describes several characteristics that define a market. As McMillan states in his first chapter, “[A typical market] evolves spontaneously, driven by its participants. It can operate with little or no formal structure — but only up to a point. To reach a degree of sophistication, its procedures need to be clarified and an authority given the power to enforce them.” A key aspect and requirement of a successful market comes with the power of the market participants, as human interaction is the fundamental basis for markets. Communication and the flow of information between market participants is important, as well as a significant amount of freedom for both buyers and sellers. Without the freedom of choice, markets would not flow smoothly. Those participating in the market system must be able to freely choose their items of both sale and purchase. Additionally, there must be an understanding of trust within the market. Oftentimes, the enforcement of market rules is necessary, and governments are usually responsible for providing the enforcement. McMillan also states that an element of competitive marketing must be present in the most successful markets.

2. The history of markets is riddled with all kinds of stories — from successes to failures, everyone has had some sort of market-related experience. There are many types of markets, some more honest and respectable than others. It’s evident that many people do in fact distrust the market system, and as McMillan states, “some people revile them as the source of exploitation and poverty.” These opinions likely stem from the fact that not all markets have successfully achieved mutual benefits for both buyers and sellers. In other situations, government authority has caused markets to experience inequality and dishonesty, especially in situations involving impoverished societies. Personally, I feel that markets usually promote ‘liberty and prosperity’, however, there have been many situations that suggest just the opposite.

3. In modern markets, there are many important rules, some more important than others. In my opinion, the most important rules are those promoting market structure, rather than authoritative market control. Rules that provide market structures lead participants towards adaptation and in turn will evolve their individual markets to achieve more efficient trading systems. Additionally, the enforcement of mutual trust within the marketplace is also important. 

Jared Diamond Article

Throughout the article, author Jared Diamond describes his ideas about why the Europeans were most dominant in early colonizations. These ideas behind colonization set the stage for an attempt at determining the reason for the variety of human history throughout different continents. In his article, Diamond uses examples of several continents in his reasoning.

The first colonization that Diamond describes is that of the New World; previously inhabited by Native Americans. The European colonists arrived by sea, using large sailing ships that had never before been seen or even imagined by the Native Americans. In addition to their advanced transportation, the colonists from Europe were also advanced in many other ways. It is this technological advancement that ultimately led to the European conquer of the New World, and it’s Native American inhabitants.

Other technological advancements of the Europeans (besides those within the realm of transportation) included that of steel weaponry, political organization, and writing. Most original inhabitants of the now-colonized societies were lacking in basically all of these technologies. It was this lack of modern technology that ultimately led to the downfall of the indigenous populations.

Interestingly enough, the most important determinants of a society’s success are not necessarily found in their specific technological advancements. These advancements are actually a result of other basic differences. Both an increase in modern agriculture and domesticated ‘farm’ animals led to the differences in human history. In Europe, domesticated animals thrived, and farming-related agriculture was blossoming into a very important aspect of Eurasian society. Unfortunately, other continents were lacking in these agricultural developments, and therefore were unable to stand up to the European colonists. The continents were lacking in these developments because the local wildlife in most non-European areas was not able to be domesticated. Additionally, overarching environmental factors contributed to the lack of farming advancements. These agricultural advancements in turn led to the production of other modern technologies, such as the weapons, steel, and other tools used in colonizations.

Overall, Diamond attributes these differences in human history to the differences in continental environments. Contrarily, some individuals believe that these differences are actually due to varying biological traits within the worldwide human population. However, this theory of biological trait differences is not supported by Diamond. 

Finally, these seemingly ancient ideas behind the development of worldwide human population can easily be applied to today’s global economy. While events such as ‘New World’ colonizations are not occurring in these times, it’s evident that advancements in modern technology stemming from environmental benefits are what contributed to the varying levels of societal development. The societies that have the most technological and environmental prowess will seemingly be more advanced and successful than those populations that are at a technological/environmental disadvantage. 




link to original article:
http://edge.org/conversation/why-did-human-history-unfold-differently-on-different-continents-for-the-last-13000-years