» Mexican elections and economic reform: a case of “show me the money” Decision Economics

Mexican elections and economic reform: a case of “show me the money”

Posted July 5, 2012 by Editor

[private]Mexican equities have jumped in the aftermath of the election that brought Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto to the presidential palace, and his party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), back to power after a 12-month hiatus.  The reason? There seems to be a surge of optimism regarding the potential for a new generation of economic reforms that would, among other things, open the energy sector to private investment, reduce the power of oligopolies in telecommunications, and increase the non-oil financing of the state.

Here are two reasons why such optimism may be misplaced:  (1) The elections have not left the PRI in a position to lead the reform effort (2) The PRI’s victory is not evidence of a pro-reform realignment of forces in Mexican politics.

7-3-12–EMG INDICATORS AND INSIGHTS _Mexico Elections_[/private]