Mexico

Mexico/United States MexicoUnited States Population -112,468,855 (July 2010 est.) -310,232,863 (July 2010 est.) GDP per capita (in US dollars) -$13,500-$46,400 Birth Rate births/1,000 population births/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Death Rate deaths/1,000 population 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Type of government Federal republic Constitution- based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Education/Employment MexicoUnited States Literacy Levels (age 15 and over can read and write) Total population: 91% Male: 92.4% Female: 89.6% (2004 est.) Total population: 99% Male: 99% Female: 99% Employment -5.5% of population is unemployed -9.3% of population is unemployed Education-5.5% of GDP spent on education -School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): 13/14 5.3% of GDP spent on education

Trade/Industries MexicoUnited States Main Industries food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism Leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining Trade - Imports -$234.4 billion (2009 est.) -metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts -$ 1,563 Billion (2009 est.) -industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), agricultural products 4.9% Trade - Exports -$229.7 billion (2009 est.) -manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton -$1,046 billion (2009 est.) -agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0%

Mexico/United States  Mexico shares it’s entire northern border with the United States and despite being neighbours they both have many differences.  The United States has a population 3 times the population of Mexico’s and more than 3 times in GDP per capita, which makes it a wealthier country than Mexico  The birth rates in Mexico are higher than the U.S but death rates in U.S is higher than in Mexico  Literacy levels are almost 100% in the United States and 90% in Mexico, males having a higher percentage than females  There is double the amount of unemployed people in the United States than Mexico  Mexico’s main industries include food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, clothing and tourism and the U.S’s main industries consist of motor vehicles, aerospace, electronics and consumer goods.  The U.S is very technologically advanced and is the leading industrial power in the world  Mexico imports and exports around $200 billion each however, The United States exports imports $1,000 billion and imports $1,500 billion.  The United States is a much more developed country than Mexico

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic  Swine influenza virus is a flu common in pigs throughout the world and the transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common.  The 2009 flu pandemic was a global outbreak of a new strain of influenza virus known as swine flu.  The outbreak began in the state of Veracruz, Mexico with the first reports of two children with the flu on March 18, 2009  Immediately after the outbreak was announced, Mexico notified the World Health Organisation.  Some countries cancelled flights and stopped trade to Mexico to help slow the worldwide spread. Despite attempts, the flu rapidly spread throughout the world affecting almost every country.

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic  In Mexico alone, over 70,000 cases of swine flu have been reported and over 1,000 deaths are confirmed.  The pandemic didn’t only cause health issues throughout Mexico, it also triggered an economical crisis. Tourism is one of Mexico’s largest industries but with the fear of swine flu, vacant hotel rooms, deserted beaches and cancelled flights left Mexico loosing more than $1 billion since the outbreak began.  With half of Mexico’s population already living in poverty, the 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic impacted negatively on the country.  Schools and other public areas were also shut down due to the pandemic.

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic  People need to take more caution to avoid catching the flu by practicing good hygiene so that the virus can be controlled and eliminated.  Vaccinations should be made easy to access and free so that more people will take them and the swine flu virus will soon be brought to an end.  The swine flu vaccination became available by late 2009 and the flu is being controlled by health workers.  It is important for Mexico that the fear of swine flu is reduced so that their tourism industry can operate properly again.

Bibliography  factbook/geos/mx.html   dyn/content/article/2009/04/29/AR html    millions-of-swine-flu-cases-possible-deaths-could-reach /   statistics.php   Mexico-City-becomes-strange-zombie-city-as-residents-hide-behind- doors.html  14xBU