The consequences of poverty in Mexico are felt in all spheres, from the political, to the health, through education and citizen security.
In this way, it can be pointed out that it is responsible, for example, for the rates of child malnutrition, early school leaving or migration.
Although there are several scales to measure poverty rates, all agree on the high incidence it has in Mexico. According to the World Bank, 50% of the inhabitants are below the poverty line, while the Government of the nation reduces it to 42%.
According to OXFAM Intermón, ending this situation in Mexico would take 120 years and it affects children and young people in a very special way.
Main consequences of poverty in Mexico
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Malnutrition is one of the most direct consequences of poverty. It occurs when the nutritional needs of a person cannot be met, although in recent years a great problem with obesity has also appeared.
This has, many times, an origin in the lack of economic and educational means that makes cheaper products are consumed, but extremely harmful to the body.
The data indicate that 15% of the Mexican population suffers from malnutrition. It is true that there have been advances with respect to children, but even so, 7.25% of those between 5 and 14 years old suffer from it. This figure doubles in rural areas.
Malnutrition causes various diseases, such as those that affect the cardiovascular system. It also causes anemia, breathing or bone problems.
Regarding the economic effects, some organizations put the cost to the country of this malnutrition at 28.8 billion dollars a year.
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The lack of economic means of many families has a pernicious effect on the schooling of the little ones.
The need to earn an income causes many children to stop studying and start working at a very early age, often in dangerous and poorly paid jobs.
If we take into account the figures presented by OXFAM, in Mexico there are around 2.4 million girls, boys and adolescents (from 5 to 17 years old) who have to leave their studies to get to work.
This also prolongs the cycle of poverty, since they will not acquire training to find better jobs.
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The increase in crime or activities such as prostitution is often related to poverty rates.
Obviously, this does not happen in one hundred percent of the cases, but it is frequent that in the poorer areas there is a higher rate of economic kidnappings or robberies. Likewise, the situation forces many young women to seek a way to earn a living in prostitution.
This has the consequences that they fall into the hands of organized groups dedicated to trafficking in women, who exploit them without letting them seek another way out.
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Emigration in search of improving living conditions is another direct consequence of poverty. In the case of Mexico, a double aspect can be seen in this phenomenon.
On the one hand, there is migration from rural areas to cities, where it is assumed that there are greater opportunities. This causes, on the one hand, that the countryside is depopulated and, on the other, that greater pockets of poverty appear in the large cities.
On the other hand, emigration to the United States is a fact that goes back several decades. In fact, the transfer of foreign exchange has become essential for the national economy.
Its negative effects include the emergence of violent mafias dedicated to transferring emigrants or the loss of a young population.
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In the political aspect it can be pointed out that poverty brings with it more political corruption. In turn, many point out that it is also a creator of poverty. Both aspects are true according to the NGOs.
Buying votes for jobs or money is much easier in poverty-stricken populations.
The power acquired by the corrupt politician or businessman is much greater if he is in charge of providing food or houses to his voters.
Articles of interest
Causes of poverty in Mexico.
Social problems of Mexico.
General causes and consequences of world poverty.
References
- Tourliere, Mathieu. Malnutrition costs Mexico 28 billion dollars per year, alerts CEpal report. Obtained from proces.com.mx
- Villa Hernández, Fernando. Poverty and its consequences. Obtained from elsiglodetorreon.com.mx
- The World Banks. Mexico. Retrieved from data.worldbank.org
- Wilson, Christopher. Mexico's Latest Poverty Stats. Retrieved from wilsoncenter.org
- CONEVAL. Measurement of Poverty in Mexico. Obtained from coneval.org.mx