3 ms·

Have to say that, as soon as I read just the title, my initial reaction was "no shit". I mean, I love America, there's no country of the many I've spent time in

by corin_ 16y ago

Have to say that, as soon as I read just the title, my initial reaction was "no shit". I mean, I love America, there's no country of the many I've spent time in that I enjoy being in more, but social equality certainly isn't on the list of reasons I love it. Does anyone have any insight as to why Mexico was at the top of the list of countries with growing inequality?

palish 16y ago
If I had to guess randomly, I'd say it's because of the drug cartels.
- andrewcooke 16y ago
  And the drug consumers elsewhere, maybe?
fleitz 16y ago
Mexico has huge corruption problems, they also have a lot of monopolies and state intervention into commerce. Generally, Mexican citizens have a very low level of economic freedom. Those in Mexico that can easily cross the border often come into America not to seek work but to buy their groceries and other items at a much cheaper price. Yes medication is a lot cheaper in Mexico, but most things are not when you look at comparable quality. http://www.heritage.org/index/country/mexico http://www.heritage.org/index/country/mexico http://www.heritage.org/index/country/unitedstates http://www.heritage.org/index/country/unitedstates http://www.heritage.org/index/country/canada http://www.heritage.org/index/country/canada
- corin_ 16y ago
  Groceries are cheaper in America? I've never been to Mexico (in fact I don't think I've ever been anywhere in South America), but I was always under the impression that (non-imported) food would be crazily cheap in countries like that.
  - fleitz 16y ago
    It can be, if you go into most groceries stores in the US & Canada you will only find Grade A produce. The cheaper Grade B stuff can be found at certain fruit and vegetable stores and Grade C mostly goes into processed foods in Canada and the United States. That's why I mentioned the bit about comparable quality. The competitiveness of American farmers despite market distortion is amazing. When I go into the US I see Milk for $2 or $3 / gallon where as it's more like $4-6 in Canada. In other countries because of the dynamics of the market lower grades of fruit and vegetables are more generally available. I'm not sure where you are from but you may be looking at US and Canadian grocery pricing through the lens of major metropolitan centres, or depending on where you shop the difference in price between Whole Foods and Wal-Mart. The price of groceries is going to be much different in the midwest vs. NYC / SF.
    - corin_ 16y ago
      I'm from England and for sure, when I'm in America I'm eating in restaurants/hotels in NYC/LA, and just seeing food prices in the occasional supermarket I happen to be in. My query was purely based on the idea that is for some reason in my head, not on any actual experiences. Cheers for the elaboration!
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

by corin_ 16y ago

palish 16y ago

If I had to guess randomly, I'd say it's because of the drug cartels.

andrewcooke 16y ago
And the drug consumers elsewhere, maybe?

fleitz 16y ago

Mexico has huge corruption problems, they also have a lot of monopolies and state intervention into commerce. Generally, Mexican citizens have a very low level of economic freedom. Those in Mexico that can easily cross the border often come into America not to seek work but to buy their groceries and other items at a much cheaper price. Yes medication is a lot cheaper in Mexico, but most things are not when you look at comparable quality. http://www.heritage.org/index/country/mexico http://www.heritage.org/index/country/mexico http://www.heritage.org/index/country/unitedstates http://www.heritage.org/index/country/unitedstates http://www.heritage.org/index/country/canada http://www.heritage.org/index/country/canada

corin_ 16y ago
Groceries are cheaper in America? I've never been to Mexico (in fact I don't think I've ever been anywhere in South America), but I was always under the impression that (non-imported) food would be crazily cheap in countries like that.
- fleitz 16y ago
  It can be, if you go into most groceries stores in the US & Canada you will only find Grade A produce. The cheaper Grade B stuff can be found at certain fruit and vegetable stores and Grade C mostly goes into processed foods in Canada and the United States. That's why I mentioned the bit about comparable quality. The competitiveness of American farmers despite market distortion is amazing. When I go into the US I see Milk for $2 or $3 / gallon where as it's more like $4-6 in Canada. In other countries because of the dynamics of the market lower grades of fruit and vegetables are more generally available. I'm not sure where you are from but you may be looking at US and Canadian grocery pricing through the lens of major metropolitan centres, or depending on where you shop the difference in price between Whole Foods and Wal-Mart. The price of groceries is going to be much different in the midwest vs. NYC / SF.
  - corin_ 16y ago
    I'm from England and for sure, when I'm in America I'm eating in restaurants/hotels in NYC/LA, and just seeing food prices in the occasional supermarket I happen to be in. My query was purely based on the idea that is for some reason in my head, not on any actual experiences. Cheers for the elaboration!

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]