POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN SAN LUIS POTOSI: SEARCHING STRATEGIES

Abstract

In San Luis Potosi (Mexico), the intensification of the lack of basic needs of the people leads to a high level of poverty that is related to the incapacity to generate jobs, marketable services and infrastructure that allow them to interact with other economic and labor sectors. A recent report of the Mexican Social Development Ministry mentioned that 54% of Mexicans live in poverty, (surviving on less than USA $ 4 a day), while 32% do so with less than 2.5 dollars, and 24% with less than $ 2 a day. Indeed, poverty, extreme poverty and social marginalization in San Luis Potosi are associated with populations living in small villages, scattered and often isolated. These populations are closely related to the primary economic activity, with little possibility of entering to the national and much less international market, despite having large endogenous capacities. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the situation of poverty and social marginalization in San Luis Potosi, focusing on the local government strategy to fight against these issues. The central argument or hypothesis is that, the Mexican government at all levels (federal, state and municipal), with inappropriate strategies of combating poverty, tends to get lost in the complex system of the national economy; that mitigates the efforts of combatting poverty and social exclusion. That is why local governments in San Luis Potosi are exposed to serious risks of improvisation and failure in their policy to combat poverty and social exclusion.