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The paper summarizes findings of a study of Mexican poverty (SO 010 522), and relates these findings to guidelines of the World Population Plan of Action. The study indicated that poverty in Mexico is based upon national and international economic, political, and social factors. Included among these factors are exploitation of labor, rapid population growth, a markedly differentiated class system, income inequalities, concentration of land ownership and economic productivity in the hands of a few, unequal patterns of food distribution, heavy foreign investment, and production for export at the expense of the national market. These factors are considered in light of the following ten recommendations of the World Population Plan of Action: (1) living conditions should be improved; (2) national and international politics should be based on considerations other than power; (3) environmental impact of socioeconomic development should be considered; (4) morbidity and mortality rates should be reduced; (5) fertility rates should be moderated; (6) employment opportunities should be created for the unemployed and the underemployed; (7) new technology should not be encouraged if it will benefit only the few that control it; (8) balanced consumption should be encouraged between rural and urban areas; (9) governments of developing nations should consider social justice in addition to short term economic gains; (10) training in population dynamics should deal with economic, social, and political influences. The conclusion is that Mexico can improve the condition of its economy by creating institutions which favor human development instead of the exploitation of the masses by the few. (Author/DB)

To determine whether the poverty which afflicts between 50% and 60% of Mexico's population can be described in an ideologically neutral perspective, the paper formulates ten questions about political and economic issues which are sensitive to both capitalist and Marxist theorists. The questions concern: (1) the balance between food supply and demand; (2) relative growth rates of the population, industry, and agriculture; (3) private ownership of production; (4) unemployment and underemployment statistics; (5) employment trends; (6) trends in land reform and capital concentration since the Revolution of 1910; (7) business profits and rates of return on foreign investment; (8) business cycles; (9) the relationship between business cycles and unemployment; and (10) the relationship of poverty to unemployment and underemployment. Discussion of each question generally involves the statement of a general picture based upon available information, a brief literature review, conjecture based upon historical trends, and conclusions suggested by the data. Analysis of data on these issues indicates that poverty in Mexico results from complex social, economic, and political factors such as exploitation of labor, heavy foreign investment, a markedly differentiated class system, and rapid population growth. The conclusion is that it is possible to gain knowledge concerning politically sensitive issues despite ideological influences. (Author/DB)