POLITICS IN MEXICO LUIS ESTRADA Spring quarter 2005
Mexican Federalism 31 States, 1 Federal District 31 States, 1 Federal District Over 2,400 municipalities Over 2,400 municipalities Municipio libre: (Art. 115) Administrative duties and public services (water, electricity, garbage collection) Municipio libre: (Art. 115) Administrative duties and public services (water, electricity, garbage collection) 16 ‘Delegaciones’ in Mexico City 16 ‘Delegaciones’ in Mexico City Over 400 municipalities in Oaxaca are chosen by ‘usos y costumbres’ -communal assemblies (571 total) Over 400 municipalities in Oaxaca are chosen by ‘usos y costumbres’ -communal assemblies (571 total) Tijuana-Rosarito, Guadalajara-Zapopan, Monterrey- San Pedro Tijuana-Rosarito, Guadalajara-Zapopan, Monterrey- San Pedro
Federalism (Díaz-Cayeros 2004) Conflict among different levels of government (different parties) Conflict among different levels of government (different parties) Unequal taxation, centralization, regional inequality (North > South) Unequal taxation, centralization, regional inequality (North > South) Unbalanced transfer of resources Unbalanced transfer of resources Inefficient taxation (centralized) Inefficient taxation (centralized) States collect less than five percent of national revenue States collect less than five percent of national revenue Virtuous vs. Vicious circles of growth and transfers (dependable of federal policies) Virtuous vs. Vicious circles of growth and transfers (dependable of federal policies)
Federalism More financially ‘autonomous’=Mexico City; less autonomous = Oaxaca More financially ‘autonomous’=Mexico City; less autonomous = Oaxaca Education and health services still centralized Education and health services still centralized Partisan conflicts Partisan conflicts Overlapped responsibilities Overlapped responsibilities CONAGO (group of governors) pushing for more federal resources CONAGO (group of governors) pushing for more federal resources
Federalism Electoral calendar (continuous elections difficult agreements) Electoral calendar (continuous elections difficult agreements) PRI still very strong at the local level PRI still very strong at the local level Greater support for the PRI means less municipal tax collection Greater support for the PRI means less municipal tax collection