The Economic Contribution of Exports in Mexico: an Approach from the States’ Finances (1880-1926)

Abstract

This paper provides a preliminary approach to the study of the contribution of Mexico’s exports to the states’ public finances during the first export era. In order to do this, it analyses the available information on state finances for some years within the period by means of a twofold procedure. On the one hand, a comparison among the ordinary income of the different states is provided, with the aim of contrasting between exporter and non-exporter states and assessing the importance of exports in the prosperity of state finances. On the other hand, a comparison of the income generated in export activities in all the states is provided, with the purpose of evaluating the direct contribution of exports to each of the states treasuries.