Economic Development and the Labor Market in Mexico

The period of accelerated growth and modernization in Mexico dates from about 1940. The groundwork for change had already been laid by the sweeping changes flowing from the preceding thirty years of revolutionary activity that produced far-reaching social and institutional changes. The onset of World War II brought with it a disruption of traditional sources of supply for industrial goods and stimulated the expansion of manufacturing production for internal consumption. The large-scale land distribution program of the Cardenas regime during the preceding decade resulted in a substantial increase in the land under cultivation and in agricultural output. Thus, the decade saw all of the principal sectors of the economy growing in tandem fashion.