ABSTRACT

This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapter of this book. The book examines the roles that five foundational factors have played in shaping the uneven development of Mexico. It examines detail the context in which Mexico's economy has evolved, with a focus on the impact of the natural environment, the resource endowment, population dynamics, and external relations. The foundational factors approach goes a long way toward explaining the dramatic economic rise of East Asian countries with which Mexico is often compared-China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. The rapid economic rise of South Korea merits special attention because it is singularly instructive regarding the roles that favorable internal foundational factors can play to promote development if the right international conditions are present. The chapter provides the comparative historical surveys of the United States and Mexico provided a general view of the forces that have molded both economies.