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Mexico
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FactsBackground: The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The global financial crisis beginning in late 2008 caused another massive economic downturn the following year. As the economy recovers, ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate - Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) - defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON. National elections, including the presidential election, are scheduled for July 2012. note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.004 trillion (2010 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2010 est.); -6.5% (2009 est.); 1.5% (2008 est.); GDP - per capita (PPP): $13,800 (2010 est.); $13,400 (2009 est.); $14,400 (2008 est.); note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.2%; industry: 33.3%; services: 62.5% (2010 est.); Population below poverty line: 18.2% using food-based definition of poverty; asset based poverty amounted to more than 47% (2008); Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7%; highest 10%: 36.3% (2008); Labor force: 46.99 million (2010 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13.7%; industry: 23.4%; services: 62.9% (2005); Unemployment rate: 5.6% (2010 est.); 5.5% (2009 est.); note: underemployment may be as high as 25% Budget: revenues: $237 billion; expenditures: $267 billion (2010 est.); Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism; Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2010 est.); Electricity - production: 245 billion kWh (2008 est.); Electricity - consumption: 181.5 billion kWh (2009 est.); Electricity - exports: 1.288 billion kWh (2008 est.); Electricity - imports: 584 million kWh (2008 est.); Statistics: CIA World Factbook. Press 1 2 Displaying 1 to 7 of 11 items. El Economista(Conservative business), Mexico City El Financiero(Independent, business-oriented), Mexico City El Imparcial(Independent), Hermosillo El Manana de Nuevo Laredo(Independent), Nuevo Laredo El Norte(Independent), Monterrey El Sur(Regional Information), Guzmán La Jornada(Independent Daily Newspaper), Mexico City Mexico in the NewsDisplaying 37 to 40 of 81 items. Supporters Say Another Mexican Forest Defender FramedFelipe Arreaga Sánchez sits in a Zihuatanejo jail cell confronted with what his supporters say is a trumped-up murder charge. A former secretary of the Campesino (Peasant) Environmentalist Organization of Petatlán and Coyuca de Catalán (OCESP), Arreaga was arrested on Nov. 3 by Guerrero State Ministerial Police and charged in the May 1998 murder of 15-year-old Abel Bautista. The First Lady Is CrazyFor weeks, Mexico has been abuzz with rumors that Marta Sahagún, Mexico's first lady, might run for president in 2006. Here political scientist Denise Dresser, writing for Mexico City’s Reforma, urges her to refrain. NAFTA and Mexico's 10-Year LethargyPablo Marentes, writing for Mexico City's conservative El Universal, compares Mexico after 10 years of NAFTA to Rip van Winkle. In Spain, Imam Sparks Legal ControversyMexico City's conservative El Universal reports on the case of an Imam convicted of encouraging violence against women for a commentary he published on the Quran. |
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