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Mexican Public Sector Food Policy Under Agricultural Trade Liberalization
Author(s) -
Sanderson Steven
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.1992.tb00169.x
Subject(s) - subsidy , liberalization , free trade , food security , public sector , agriculture , economic policy , politics , economics , argument (complex analysis) , business , international trade , development economics , market economy , political science , economy , geography , biochemistry , chemistry , law , archaeology
Mexico has enjoyed one of the Third World's most successful food production systems, based on a complex pattern of public sector intervention. Since 1982, the public sector has withdrawn, in a remarkably Steadfast commitment to privatization, external stabilization, and trade liberalization. This article traces the key elements of that process, and their likely impacts on traditional political goals of food security progressive social policy in the countryside, and external sector dependence. The principal argument is that privatization and trade liberalization leave poor agriculturalists vulnerable, but undoubtebly offer fiscal gains to the state and benefits to urban consumers, especially in light of reduced subsidies.