MEXICO:
The Economy
Economic Regions
 Manufacturing
and Mining = important!
 Service Industries also important.
 Service Industry: a business that provides
services to people instead of making goods.

Banking & Tourism
 Geography
of Mexico influences the econ.
 How? 3 major economic regions

The North, The South and Central Mexico
Central Mexico
 The
economic center of Mexico.
 Home to more than ½ population.
 Climate = good for agriculture.
 Large industrial cities = Mexico City and
Guadalajara help economy grow.
 Mexico city has 24 million people and is
center of Mexico’s government.
The North
 The
North econ region includes Baja & the
northern part of the Plateau.
 Irrigation aids in farming this land for:

Cotton, fruits, cereals, vegetables
 Vaqueros

Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs
 Largest

city = Monterrey = Steel Production
Mine = copper, silver, lead, zinc
 Many

(cowhands) ranch the area
work in Maquiladoras = Factories
Cars, computers, stereos, other electronics
The South
 The
South is from Mexico city to the
Yucatan Peninsula
 Poorest economic region of Mexico.
 Most are Subsistence Farmers: who grow
just enough for their families.
 Wealthier farmers in the Basins grow
coffee or sugarcane on Plantations: large
farms that grow and sell a single crop.
 Tourism is also important to this region.
Economic Challenges
 Over
the years, Mexico has Industrialized:
where industry has replaced farming as
it’s major economic activity.
 Several
problems arise as a country
industrializes, Mexico has faced many.
Economic Challenges
 Pollution:
The Smog: fog mixed with smoke
and chemicals, clouds in between Mexico’s
mountain ranges.
 Pollution can make people sick //
Schoolchildren wear masks to school.
 Farmers burn the forests to make room for
crops, but less trees = less oxygen renewed.
Economic Challenges
 Population
Changes: Mexico’s population is
growing 2x as fast as the USA.
 Diet and healthcare improvements = people
are living longer.
 Mexico does not have enough jobs for it’s
large population.
 Many have left the country in search of work.
Economic Challenges
 Free
Trade: in 1993 = Mexico, USA, &
Canada approved the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
 This agreement lets goods and money
travel more freely between the 3
countries.
 Many hoped that NAFTA would increase
Mexico’s economy and create jobs.
Assignment
 Please
read about the Maya on pg. 163 and
answer question #1 in a complete sentence
and #2 using the Elephant Paragraph format:





Introduction sentence
Supporting information sentence
Supporting information sentence
Outside information sentence
Concluding sentence
 *NOTICE
THAT #2 ASKS 2 QUESTIONS*