The government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which took office in December 2018, has proclaimed the “end of neoliberalism.” Nonetheless, there have been clear signals that his presidency will not deviate much from the previous model. However, power is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the president.
Mexico faces considerable challenges in reducing poverty and inequality, aggravated by low economic growth. Since 2018, GDP per capita growth has been negative. This was even exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as economically, Mexico has been hit harder than other countries on the continent.
The president has attacked and threatened the autonomous institutions that ensure a certain level of transparency and vigilance over the government’s actions. The government imposed a very strict austerity program, which significantly affected state capacity and efficiency. It has failed to implement an active public policy against the economic and social impact of the pandemic.
