The Impact of Trade in Goods, Services and Investment Liberalisation on Mexico's Labour Force and Income: 1985-2000

The study "The impact of the 1985-2000 trade and investment liberalisation on labour conditions in Mexico" presented by Ms Gloria Moreni-Fontes Chammartin concentrates on providing information on how the Mexican labour force has fared by the opening of the economy to international trade and investment during the period 1985-2000. Several labour force and income distribution surveys, as well as raw data from social security registries were carefully analysed to provide the necessary empirically based information and support to theoretical assumptions. Based on these data, the present research throws light on the significant impact of trade liberalisation on employment and real wages not only of the formal sector, but also of the rapidly growing informal sector, as well as on Mexicans working and living conditions, and to a less extent on Mexican workers' income fluctuations and poverty levels.