For Third World Standard, Is Mexico Poor?

**jankren** · July 11, 2010, 04:49 PM

I was googling GDP per capita of countries around the world and I was surprised that Mexico actually has one of the highest GDP per capita among third world countries. It is even higher than Turkey and on par with Russia!

So despite the relative prosperity, how come Mexico seems like such a hellhole and a lot of Mexicans come to the US?!?

**Farnan** · July 11, 2010, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by jankren

I was googling GDP per capita of countries around the world and I was surprised that Mexico actually has one of the highest GDP per capita among third world countries. It is even higher than Turkey and on par with Russia!

So despite the relative prosperity, how come Mexico seems like such a hellhole and a lot of Mexicans come to the US?!?

In Mexico the rich are very rich and the poor are extremely poor.

Remember GDP per capita is an average which can be skewed by outliers.

**jankren** · July 11, 2010, 04:53 PM

In USA, 1% of the population possess half the wealth of the whole country. How is that any different?

**Farnan** · July 11, 2010, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by jankren

In USA, 1% of the population possess half the wealth of the whole country. How is that any different?

Because poor in the US is different from poor in Mexico.

Its like being bitten by a garden snake or a rattling snake. If you are bit by a garden snake it hurts but you will have not die. If you are bit by a rattling snake you will die without treatment. In both cases you are bit by a snake but the results are different.

This does not say there are no desperately poor in the US, for there definitely are but they are less of a percent than the desperately poor in Mexico.

**jankren** · July 11, 2010, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Farnan

Because poor in the US is different from poor in Mexico.

Obviously, since USA and Mexico economically belong to way different leagues in the first place. One has GDP per capita of $47,000 while the other has $10,000.

As I said, Im talking about Mexico's economy relative to the Third World.

**~~Arch-hereticK~~** · July 11, 2010, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by jankren

In USA, 1% of the population possess half the wealth of the whole country. How is that any different?

Im places like mexico 95%of the wealth is owned by 5%.

**karamazovmm** · July 11, 2010, 04:53 PM

GDP don't calculate the prosperity of people, it simply agglomerate the fortune that some very small part of the population has with the others... in the end since the rich are very rich you get a high GDP

Brazil is one the richest nations in the planet?

**karamazovmm** · July 11, 2010, 05:08 PM

This is a question about statistics, there is no political content

**Farnan** · July 11, 2010, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by jankren

So despite the relative prosperity, how come Mexico seems like such a hellhole and a lot of Mexicans come to the US?!?

This is the question I was answering...

To further push this, the US poverty line is above the Mexican GDP per Capita.

**Big War Bird** · July 11, 2010, 10:39 PM

Mexico seems like a hellhole for the same reason Alabama seems like a hellhole. Its all relative.

**Banana Jelly** · July 11, 2010, 10:50 PM

Mexico is extremely poor. Only the rich are actually rich (Mexico has the richest person in the world). The average lives of Mexicans are poor. That's why many mexicans come to US illegally, rather then US people going to Mexico illegally.

**Mr. Crow** · July 13, 2010, 09:21 PM

well in purchaese power, they are better of than the rest of latin america, most of eastern europe, most of asia,

as for the gini, they have the same index as china or the USA, but as stated people in the US make more money, the reason Mexico looks poor is that it is besides the US. if it were anywere else it would be another rusia, or a litle bit better. not much but still.

**jankren** · July 13, 2010, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Crow

well in purchaese power, they are better of than the rest of latin america, most of eastern europe, most of asia,

as for the gini, they have the same index as china or the USA, but as stated people in the US make more money, the reason Mexico looks poor is that it is besides the US. if it were anywere else it would be another rusia, or a litle bit better. not much but still.

Thats exactly my point.

Being situated next to USA makes Mexico seem like Zimbabwe when it can actually be seen as a regional economic powerhouse if it is located elsewhere like in Asia or the Middle East.