Only a few years ago, a proponent of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Mexico and the United States would have faced … harsh criticism in Mexico, and indifference in the U.S.1 In Mexico, for decades the idea of explicitly promoting increased … blatantly rejected in most political and academic circles. The U.S. administrations, acknowledging Mexico's feelings of distrust …

exports to Mexico and boost Mexico's economic growth. Since its passage, however, not everything has gone as planned. In 1995 … ― scarcely a year after NAFTA came into effect ― Mexico was in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades. Meanwhile …, rather than the anticipated expansion, US exports to Mexico went down …

Inequality in Mexico rose between 1989 and 1994 and declined between 1994 and 2010. We examine the role of market …