Poverty in Mexico : An Assessment of Conditions, Trends and Government Strategy

In 2002, half of Mexico's
population lived in poverty and one fifth in extreme
poverty, slightly lower than before the 1994-1995 crisis.
Mexico has made major progress in some poverty dimensions
-health, nutrition and education outcomes, access to basic
health and education services, electricity, water and (to a
lesser extent) sanitation. Large increases in government
spending enabled key social programs to expand. Programs
also became more pro-poor, with new demand-side measures
using cash transfers as incentives for poor households to
send their children to school and attend health clinics.