Open Dissipative System of Popular Markets in Tabasco

Abstract

The Mexican food system was dramatically affected by the periodic crises with high inflation and dangerous devaluations of the peso against the dollar. The Mexican Government promoted a popular system of basic products in rural and urban areas, to make at least the most basic goods available even in the most remote areas. They also regularly published the official prices of basic foods to reduce speculation and regional and local hoarding. The South East is a region far from Mexico City and, with the oil boom in the early 1980s, Tabasco in particular required an increasing, safe supply of both basic and luxury goods. The decentralisation of food collection to rural storage and the concession of affiliated shops with controlled prices reduced the transportation time and costs of food supply. These processes guaranteed fresh vegetables and fruit at local prices. The governmental actions reduced also the number of intermediaries, food speculation and the hoarding of basic food and improved food security of the marginal people, whenever local interests boycotted the official efforts.