Journal of Economic Literature
ISSN 0022-0515 (Print) | ISSN 2328-8175 (Online)
Why Have Economic Reforms in Mexico Not Generated Growth?
Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 48,
no. 4, December 2010
(pp. 1005–27)
Abstract
Following its opening to trade and foreign investment in the mid-1980s, Mexico's economic growth has been modest at best, particularly in comparison with that of China. Comparing these countries and reviewing the literature, we conclude that the relation between openness and growth is not a simple one. Using standard trade theory, we find that Mexico has gained from trade, and by some measures, more so than China. We sketch out a theory in which developing countries can grow faster than the United States by reforming. As a country becomes richer, this sort of catch-up becomes more difficult. Absent continuing reforms, Chinese growth is likely to slow down sharply, perhaps leaving China at a level less than Mexico's real GDP per working-age person. (JEL E23, E65, F14, O10, O20, O47)Citation
Kehoe, Timothy J., and Kim J. Ruhl. 2010. "Why Have Economic Reforms in Mexico Not Generated Growth?" Journal of Economic Literature, 48 (4): 1005–27. DOI: 10.1257/jel.48.4.1005JEL Classification
- E23 Macroeconomics: Production
- E65 Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
- F14 Country and Industry Studies of Trade
- O10 Economic Development: General
- O20 Development Planning and Policy: General
- O47 Measurement of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence