Consumerism in Latin America

Substantial consumerism in Latin America was long delayed by extensive poverty. In 1800, for example, the average Mexican had a standard of living about two-thirds as high as a citizen of the United States. In 1900 this ratio had dropped to one-third. Americans had become more prosperous, and of course were engaging in increasingly elaborate consumer spending. But Mexicans had also become poorer, despite some industrial development at the end of the century.