L
by way of giving To conclude a deliberation, which involves an exchange of ideas and reflections, is to ignore any argument. Such has been the case with the economic and financial situation, a subject that has become a sort of fetish, the edges of which few or no one dares to question. The President of the Republic has opted to Close the case
not without first highlighting the success of its policies and exhibiting big numbers
.
What message of encouragement or compensation is there for thousands of Mexicans in the big numbers
When public health does not function properly, job security is practically non-existent and, when the time comes, retirement will be minimal and with no serious chance of improvement in the short term.
Of course, it is better for the economy to grow above zero or for inflation to be easing, but there are differences between that and suggesting that the economy is booming. It is enough to consider, for example, that in 2023 the economy was only 3.6 percent above what it was in 2018. And that food inflation, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is the second highest in the organization, after Turkey.
It is true that, given the significant increase in the minimum wage and the maintenance of monetary transfers of many types but with a more or less certain destination for vulnerable or downright poor populations, there has been better and greater consumption and that production growth has been sustained. However, it is also undeniable that Mexico’s history is full of victims; thousands of young people and young adults who have not had the opportunity to access good jobs and have been forced to be in occupations from which they obtain low and precarious incomes, without guaranteed and universal access to public health and social security.
A few days ago, the distinguished economist Gerardo Esquivel wrote in his article Millennium (One hundred thousand fewer poor people per month
15/7/24): According to official figures published by the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval), the number of people living in multidimensional poverty in Mexico decreased from 51.9 million in 2018 to 46.8 million in 2022, a reduction of 5.1 million. Considering that this reduction occurred over a period of 48 months, the number of poor people in Mexico decreased at a rate of just over 100 thousand people per month (106 thousand 250 to be precise).
.
A number that would be productive if, in truth, it gave way to serious, rigorous and plural reflections on the current state of poverty in Mexico and its real and feasible prospects for lasting overcoming.
Let us note, for now, that the figures may help to explain the electoral result, but they do not erase the multiple deficiencies in education, health and formal employment, of which we know more and more after the structural change, carried out at the end of the last century, sponsored several mutations both in the productive structure and in our human geography; however, it was unable to generate more jobs and raise income. Nor did it improve income distribution or the social consumption
in our case articulated by the areas of health and education.
Areas that accumulate gaps and deficiencies, as Gilberto Guevara has documented with effort and quality in the field of education, and Jaime Sepúlveda and Julio Frenk have presented with excellence together with several other colleagues in the area of the health system. Subjects in which, as has occurred with previous governments, we are one point less than failing.
Accepting that these are pending subjects, poorly studied or simply failed is an essential first step to rid ourselves of cobwebs and superstitions and thus face the great challenge of building a social, welfare and protection State. the cradle to the grave
as promised by Labour spirit of 45
as the great Ken Loach would say.
A great social agreement that was largely fulfilled and now calls on the Labour Party of today to take it up again as the great promise of the present century. It should be our turn, without thinking of Denmark, where that prince of being and non-being still rules. Now Mexico has to be, but it will not be able to be in the midst of illness, helplessness and illiteracy.
