The Cognitive Transition in Mexico: Economic Geography and Local Governance Impacts

19 Pages Posted: 20 Nov 2008 Last revised: 9 Dec 2008

See all articles by David Mayer-Foulkes

David Mayer-Foulkes

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE) - Division of Economics; UCLA Blum Center on Poverty and Health in Latinamerica

Date Written: October 21, 2008

Abstract

This article shows that cognitive ability determinants include both individual and local indicators of regional macroeconomic wellbeing, publicly provided goods and private goods, through 141 localities in Mexico. The inequity impact of these various goods is quantified using a concentration index decomposition. Individual characteristics such as paternal and maternal cognitive ability, whether mother works, father's schooling and household wealth, and local characteristics including local economic activity, local public policy and local marginalization indicators, have significant impacts on these indicators of early child development. Living in a rural locality accounts for one fourth of inequities in cognitive ability. The evidence shows that there is a long-term transition towards higher levels of cognitive ability that will take several generations to converge at the current rate.

Suggested Citation

Mayer-Foulkes, David, The Cognitive Transition in Mexico: Economic Geography and Local Governance Impacts (October 21, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1303867 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1303867

David Mayer-Foulkes (Contact Author)

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE) - Division of Economics ( email )

Carretera Mexico Toluca 3655
01210 Mexico, D.F.
Mexico
+52 55 5727 9839 (Phone)
+52 55 5727 9878 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.cide.edu/investigador/profile.php?IdInvestigador=25

UCLA Blum Center on Poverty and Health in Latinamerica

10833 Le Conte Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90095
United States
(310) 825-7354 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://blumcenter.ucla.edu/

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