Abstract

RELIO, Fernando. Structural Inertia, Globalization and Agriculture: Lessons of the Mexican Case. Economía UNAM [online]. 2009, vol.6, n.17, pp.30-45. ISSN 1665-952X.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of globalization on Mexican agriculture. It is argued that due to a heavy structural inertia the main economic and social problems of rural Mexico existed before the application of the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, this treaty has exerted a powerful influence on agriculture creating greater inequality. Export agriculture has increased rapidly but the bulk of agriculture, which produces basic foods, has lagged behind. Globalization implies a change in rural market operation that has failed to increase the pace of global agricultural growth and has made the rural economy more uneven. The main rural reforms accompanying globalization, as well as the main lessons of the Mexican experience are discussed here. Finally, the main challenges facing the design of rural policy are analyzed.