Crisis, Living Conditions and Health in Mexico: New Challenges for Social Policy

Authors

  • Oliva López Arellano Researcher and Professor, Masters Program in Social Medicine and Doctoral Program in Collective Health, Department of Health Care. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
  • José Alberto Rivera Márquez Researcher and Professor, Masters Program in Social Medicine and Doctoral Program in Collective Health, Department of Health Care. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
  • Victoria Ixshel Delgado Campos Assistant Professor, Masters Program in Social Medicine, Department of Health Care. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
  • José Blanco Gil Researcher and Professor. Masters Program in Social Medicine. Department of Health Care. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco

Abstract

In the last 30 years, Mexico has faced major crises in its political, economic, and social life. These crises have affected living conditions and health. With the implementation in the 1980's of structural adjustment and economic stabilization policies, Mexico saw a rapid growth of poverty accelerating trends toward social polarization and social division. The current crisis, fueled by deregulation of the global financial markets, only deepens the tendency towards economic stagnation. It has led to an increase in unemployment, worsening income inequalities, and generalized inflation. The increase in food prices, in particular, has made life more difficult for the Mexican population. The crisis has had a palpable and concrete impact on living conditions, health status, and food security for diverse social groups.

Author Biography

Oliva López Arellano, Researcher and Professor, Masters Program in Social Medicine and Doctoral Program in Collective Health, Department of Health Care. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco

BA Physical Anthropology MA Social Medicine PhD Sociocultural Anthropology Full time professor. Research area: Health and society, Graduate Program in Physical Anthropology, National School of Anthropology and History. Member of the Promoting Group of ALAMES in Mexico.

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Themes and Debates