Poverty in Mexico Not Decreasing Despite Many Government Programs Angelica Enciso L. - La Jornada
go to original January 13, 2015

Household incomes have not risen since 1992 and poverty has not dropped despite the increase in basic supports in education, housing and health. Additionally, there are programs and low quality federal government actions, such as Popular Insurance [government subsidized health insurance for those working in the informal, cash economy] and education. Programs for economic production lack adequate results and those for social development are unfocused.

This is the assessment of the 2014 Social Development Policy prepared by the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL). The document warns that neither economic growth, which has averaged 1.2 percent annually per capita between 1993 and 2013, nor the existence of multiple government programs which seek to generate families' incomes, have been sufficient to reduce poverty.

It states that household income has been low for 23 years, income from work has lost its buying power in relation to the cost of a basket of foodstuffs. Since 2007, the cost of food has risen more than the average rate of inflation, and since 2000 the minimum wage has remained practically unchanged.

Access to employment benefits is the biggest limitation: "Generating quality jobs with adequate wages that impact labor productivity is a challenge for economic policy."

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Tristan Foy

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx.

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