Environmental and socioeconomic multivariate analysis of the primary economic sector of Mexico

Canonical correspondence analyses were made for the primary economic sector of all 32 Mexican states. Environmental, social and economic indicators were considered in the analyses. Four homogeneous units, fisheries, forestry, agriculture and anthropogenic aptitude, were identified. Coastal states showed a higher contribution to the gross national product (GNP) than noncoastal states. Jalisco had the highest contribution to the GNP. Our analysis represents a useful tool to describe and arrange homogeneous state groups inside the country. This ordering will be useful to develop national strategies, both socioeconomic and environmental. We hope this kind of analysis will be useful for the decision makers not only in Mexico, but also in other countries that use this innovative approach. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment

Big Push or Big Grab? Railways, Government Activism and Export Growth in Latin America, 1865-1913

Railways were one of the main engines of the Latin American trade boom before 1914. Railway construction often required financial support from local governments, which depended on their fiscal capacity. However, since the main government revenues were trade-related, this generated a two-way feedback between government revenues and railways, with a potential for multiple equilibria.The empirical tests in this article support the hypothesis of such a positive two-way relationship.The main implication of our analysis is that the build-up of state capacity was a necessary condition for railway expansion and also, to a large extent, for export expansion in Latin America during the first globalization