With two-thirds of the 2,000 mile border, nearly $12 billion a month in bilateral trade and deep social bonds, Southwest border states have a stake in Mexico’s presidential election.
“A growing Mexico would let Texas expand and benefit from trade even more,” said Shannon O’Neil, an analyst with the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations to the San Antonio Express-News. “A floundering Mexico limits any growth and could put Texas companies and workers’ jobs in jeopardy.
Investment fell off during the recession in Mexico, but has steadily climbed back despite escalating drug violence. Analysts said to NPR that business in border states would strengthen even more if Mexico solved its cartel problem.
Mexico could be growing more if it reforms its tax system, labor market and energy sector, as well as implement antipoverty strategies in order to have a stable economy. All of these reforms would have implications on future migration patterns, said Carol Wise, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Southern California to Voxxi News.
