The Economics of Poverty, Inequality and Wealth Accumulation in Mexico

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 1-6

3. The Problem: Income Distribution and Poverty in Mexico During Economic Liberalization

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 7-40

4. How Much Inequality Can be Explained?

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 41-58

5. Decomposing the Changes in Inequality

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 59-84

6. Explaining Poverty

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 85-114

7. Explaining Changes in Poverty

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 115-134

8. The Effect of Poverty Alleviation Programmes on Poverty

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 135-165

9. Restrictions on the Accumulation of Human and Physical Capital: Traditional Explanations

   • Miguel Székely

   Pages 166-186

10. Savings, Poverty and Uncertainty

    • Miguel Székely

    Pages 187-221

11. An Alternative Approach

    • Miguel Székely

    Pages 222-238

12. Conclusions

    • Miguel Székely

    Pages 239-250

13. Back Matter

    Pages 251-282

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The aim of this book is to understand why despite a considerable increase in average income in Mexico during the 1984-1992 period of economic liberalization, the conditions of the poorest of the poor deteriorated and income inequality increased. To explain why some individuals were able to take advantage of the opportunities which the economy was generating, while others were prevented from doing so, the author suggests some methodology to extract additional information from poverty and inequality measures, and test the main theories of household saving behaviour.

• income distribution
• Income inequality
• poverty

• Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, USA

  Miguel Székely

MIGUEL SZÉKELY is a Research Consultant, Office of the Chief Economist, Inter-American Development Bank. He was Researcher and Lecturer in Economics at the Centre for Economics Studies, El Colegio de Mexico (1989-93). He was Lecturer in Economics, Department of Economics, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM), Mexico (1990-92). He won the Nancy Ruggles Memorial Award 1996, for the paper Explaining Poverty. His recent publications are: Income Distribution and Poverty in Mexico, Poverty in Mexico during Adjustment, Review of Income and Wealth, Series 41 (1995), `Aspectos Sobre la Desigualdad en Mexico', El Trimestre Económico, (April-June, 1995), and `Estabilización y Ajuste con Desigualdad y Pobreza, el Caso de Mexico', El Trimestre Económico No. 241, (January-March, 1994)

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