Transition In Mexico Research Articles

Eco-Political Conflict and Communal Environmentalism in the Struggle of Atenco Against the Construction of a New International Airport in Mexico City

This essay explores, from an eco-political perspective, the popular mobilization led by peasants in the municipality of Atenco against Mexico City’s new international airport. It provides a case study of the dramatic worldwide changes brought about by the construction of mega-infrastructure, the intimate link between peasant communities’ social and cultural values, the lake and agricultural land put at risk by the airport construction project, and the subsequent struggle in defense of the lake and land affected by this project. Finally, it narrates the experience of the #YoPrefieroElLago (Hashtag I prefer the lake) campaign, which, amidst the presidential transition in Mexico, resulted in the airport’s cancellation, a victory for the People’s Front in Defense of Land.

Cambrian (Fortunian to Jiangshanian) depositional environments of northwestern Mexico: Distribution and facies patterns along the western margin of Laurentia

The Cambrian sedimentary successions from Sonora, Mexico provides information about the sedimentary and geological evolution that occurred on the western margin of Laurentia. The sedimentary rocks from the Fortunian to Jiangshanian stages denote eustatic changes. Initially (Fortunian to Stage 3), shallow water marine clastic-carbonate deposits are found in northwest Sonora. These deposits comprise tidal flats and lagoons with storm deposits and reefs dominated by archaeocyaths. The Stage 4 to Wuliuan sedimentary succession represents the most documented Cambrian transition in Mexico, which includes deposits from the shoreline - beach conditions, lagoon and restricted inner platform with low diversity of polymerid trilobites, to an outer platform - deep shelf margin with abundant agnostids. On the other hand, the sedimentary environments during the Drumian to Guzhangian changed from an outer shelf marine environment to a shallow water marine platform. And finally, rocks from the Paibian to Jiangshanian denote an outer shelf transition to a middle to outer shelf margin.

Decolonizing the political economy of energy transitions: new energy spaces and pluriversal politics in Mexico

This paper draws on Critical Political Economy (CPE) to explore energy transitions in Mexico. It analyzes struggles over competing energy visions from a decolonial, spatial and post-development perspective. The article frames energy transformations as more than a move away from fossil fuels: They encompass a radical overhaul of universalized Eurocentric capitalist modernity that call the state’s role as both facilitator and driver of the energy transition into question. I examine two low-carbon infrastructure projects in the state of Yucatan, Mexico to build on Bridge and Gailing’s notion of new energy spaces as the sites, scales and spatialities through which broader questions of political economy and contemporary struggles are being worked out. CPE of the energy transition must ensure that low-carbon infrastructures are not deployed as new forms of extraction, but rather as the material basis of pluriversal transitions informed by affected communities and their territorial struggles. Both studies on the political economy of energy transitions and territorial struggles can benefit from an open dialogue about how socioecological transformations are imagined, designed and implemented.

Imbalanced Sex Ratios and Marital Transitions in Mexico

Migration from Mexico to the United States results in numerical imbalances between men and women in the communities left behind, but little is known about how these imbalanced sex ratios in Mexican communities affect family formation behavior. Using two waves of data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) and 2000 Mexican census data, we examine how the sex composition of the municipality population is associated with the likelihood that Mexican women and men marry. Consistent with demographic-opportunity theory, but not sociocultural theory, results from logistic regression analyses show that men’s probability of marrying is positively associated with the numerical availability of eligible women in the municipality population. Consistent with the argument that many Mexican migrant men, but not migrant women, remain eligible partners for those who remain in Mexico, the sex composition of the municipal population is significantly associated with men’s but not women’s likelihood of marrying.

Stratigraphy of the Cambrian (Miaolingian to Furongian) and Ordovician (Tremadocian) west of Arivechi, eastern Sonora, Mexico: Implications on the Cambrian-Ordovician boundary

The Cambrian-Ordovician transition in Mexico has been poorly documented. According to the literature published until now, the most complete middle-upper Cambrian (Miaolingian to Furongian)-Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) (509-477 Ma) succession is exposed near the town of Arivechi, in northeastern Sonora. This Cambrian-Ordovician sedimentary succession is approximately 900 m thick and is divided into seven lithostratigraphic units. The Cambrian portion of the section consists of El Gavilán, El Mogallón, Milpillas, and La Huerta formations (∼600 m) and range from the upper Wuliuan to Paiban stages (509-494 Ma). El Gavilán Formation consists of limestone and shale with chancelloriids and trilobites of the Altiocculus Subzone of the upper Ehmaniella Zone (Miaolingian, Wuliuan). El Mogallón formation (informal name) is characterized by shale, siltstone, and limestone with abundant poriferans and agnostids of the Ptychagnostus atavus/Bolaspidella Zone (Miaolingian, Drumian). Milpillas formation (informal name) consists of limestone and sandy limestone with trilobites of the Crepicephalus Zone (Miaolingian, Guzhangian). La Huerta formation (informal name) is a limestone and shale intercalations with abundant brachiopods, including Angulotreta triangularis, indicative from the Aphelaspis to the lower Dunderbergia Zones (Furongian, Paibian). The Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) portion of the section consists of El Santísimo formation herein informaly divided into three members: El Ranchito, El Encinal and La Palma (∼300 m). El Ranchito member consists of limestone, shale, and siltstone with dendroid graptolites of Anisograptus matanensis Zone (Early Ordovician, Tremadocian). El Encinal member consists of siltstone and sandstone with cross-stratification and graptolites of Anisograptus matanensis Zone (Early Ordovician, Tremadocian). La Palma member contains in the lower non-fossiliferous part, a limestone breccia and siltstone, and the upper part contains limestone with conodonts from the Rossodus manitouensis to the Scolopodus subrex Zone (Early Ordovician, Tremadocian). The Cambrian deposits of eastern Arivechi represent open marine platform facies with an abundant fauna of poriferans, brachiopods, trilobites, and echinoderms, typical of Laurentia. In contrast, the Ordovician deposits represent open ocean deposits dominated by graptolites and conodonts that indicate a shallow marine to a shelf environment.

Optimal expansion for a clean power sector transition in Mexico based on predicted electricity demand using deep learning scheme

This study presents a mathematical programming approach for the strategic planning of electrical energy production. The proposed approach seeks the optimal selection of conventional and clean technologies and their production capacity in a given period. In addition, it aims to assess the amount of emissions generated and water consumption, without neglecting economic aspects. The planning considered in this study extends from 2020 to 2040, where the approach considers the implementation of deep learning models to forecast the future electricity demand of each year through historical data; thus obtaining a more precise energy configuration. Fossil fuels and biofuels are used as primary energy in the operation of different technologies. Therefore, both economic and environmental objectives are considered. The economic objective function determines the minimum total discounted cost, which encompasses energy production, operation, maintenance, primary energy, and investment costs. While the environmental objective focuses on reducing water consumption and emissions. Through Pareto curves, using the ɛ-constraint method, the proposed model determines the trade-offs between the total discounted cost and the CO2eq emissions generated. The Mexican electrical system is presented as a specific case study with real production data and available resources. The results show that it is possible to reduce the total discounted cost by up to 11.02%, while in environmental aspects, up to 28.27% in emissions and up to 20.23% in water consumption, achieving that the power produced by renewable energies increases progressively until reaching 70% of the energy demand in 2040, where the system is committed to implementing clean technologies and replaces a percentage of fossil fuels with biofuels in conventional technologies. The results highlight that by increasing the investment cost with clean technologies, the system is balanced with a lower total future cost in the planning presented, thus reducing the environmental burden, and determining trade-offs between cost and environmental aspects.

La disputa por la transición energética en México en condiciones dependientes

La disputa por la transición energética en México en condiciones dependientes

DNA microarrays to identify etiological agents, as sensors of environmental wellbeing.

Background: The epidemiologic transition in Mexico has generated a change of paradigm in public health. Morbidity is characterized by infectious diseases and the mortality is due to chronic degenerative diseases. The three most important infectious diseases in the country are: respiratory infections, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections. Method: The objective of this work was to build a tool to monitor the presence of health risks in the environment in a timely manner and to demonstrate its application in different sicknesses, especially those that are water related. In this study, we analyzed water samples from five cenotes with high tourist flow in the State of Yucatan. We developed a DNA microarray for the adequate and prompt detection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. This microarray could be used in samples of different origin including air, water (fresh, brackish and saltwater), food, inert surfaces or wounds. Clinically, it would allow prompt and precise detection of etiological agents of infectious diseases to prevent outbreaks. It would also be useful for the identification of those agents that cannot be detected in our laboratories with the traditional methods. It includes 38,000 probes that detect 252 etiological agents of diseases in humans and antimicrobial resistance genes. Results from DNA samples can be obtained in 24h, which would be difficult or impossible using other technologies. Results: The results are readily available within 24h. Samples from five cenotes (sinkholes) with high flow of people, were analyzed with the microarray. The water samples analyzed detected 228 different bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They are amongst the most important etiological agents for infectious diseases in Mexico. Conclusions: The microarray provides the opportunity for precise and early detection of various infectious agents in individuals, hospitals and natural environments. This could help reduce the global burden of diseases, the severity of outbreaks, and reduce antibiotic resistance.

Islands of power. Democratic legitimacy, autonomous organisms, and their conflict in Mexico

In connection with the democratic transition in Mexico, several autonomous organisms were created by constitutional amendment, in significant public policy areas. However, these same organisms came under increasing criticism over the past years, as technocratic and illegitimate, in the country’s national media. Institutional confrontation followed. We discuss this conflict employing our own theoretical proposal on sources of bureaucratic legitimacy. Furthermore, based on key informant interviews, we examine the understanding of senior officials who serve at autonomous organisms about their role in Mexican democracy, and how this understanding informs and orients their work toward strengthening the legitimacy of their own institutions.

Oil Theft, Energy Security and Energy Transition in Mexico

Oil theft refers to the exploitation of crude oil or refined petroleum products for criminal purposes. In Mexico, oil theft—referred to as huachicolero—is endemic and widespread. By framing it within the energy security and transition context, this paper offers a new perspective on the problem of oil theft in Mexico. Focusing on crude oil and refined petroleum, the paper demonstrates that Mexico’s energy security—as framed around the 4As (availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptance)—has deteriorated over the past decade. Application of the 4As framework in the Mexican context shows that the increasing frequency of oil theft has contributed to this deterioration. The proposed solution to the energy security and oil theft problems is centred on Mexico moving from gasoline and diesel to electrification in the transportation sector. The paper demonstrates that, while transport electrification in Mexico has been lagging behind other countries, recent developments in the country point to growing momentum among the country’s political and business elites, in tandem with US partners, in support for the energy transition. Areas where further emphasis should be placed to accelerate Mexico’s energy transition in the transportation sector are identified. Finally, the feasibility of and potential limitations associated with implementing the transition are evaluated.

‘Just Transition’ in the Global South: Mission Impossible? The Perils of the Transition in Mexico and Ecuador

‘Just Transition’ in the Global South: Mission Impossible? The Perils of the Transition in Mexico and Ecuador

Promoting a Sustainable Energy Transition in Mexico: the Role of Solid Biofuels

Promoting a Sustainable Energy Transition in Mexico: the Role of Solid Biofuels

Los Técnicos and the Role of Ideas: Unraveling Mexico's Transition to Trade Liberalization

Los Técnicos and the Role of Ideas: Unraveling Mexico's Transition to Trade Liberalization

Fueling Mexico: Energy and Environment, 1850–1950

Fueling Mexico: Energy and Environment, 1850–1950

Analysis of Job Transitions in Mexico with Markov Chains in Discrete Time

In this paper, we suggest a holistic explanation for the role currently played by self-employment in less developed countries and, consequently, a reason for its persistence and growth in recent years. At the same time, we link this explanation with current discussions on the role of very small economic units and informality and their relation to unemployment rates. In general, countries where the combined share of self-employment and very small units is high exhibit lower unemployment rates than countries of similar levels of development, but where the small units’ share is less significant. Using a rich set of labor data for Mexico, we examined flows between seven different labor statuses. Equilibrium vectors estimated through Markov matrices show that flows are linked to the economic cycle and that there exists a gender difference in behavior in these flows. We found that a dichotomic explanation of self-employment persistence (entrepreneurial reservoir/survival strategy) is not supported by evidence. We also found that strong links exist between the size of the self-employed sector and unemployment rates. With the help of a set of surveys on very small economic units, we identified a three-tier structure for very small economic units in Mexico. Thus, self-employment and small-sized economic units are both a source of income and a source of cheap goods for lower-income sectors. They serve as a buffer against unemployment and help to provide subsistence conditions for the poorest segment of the population. Finally, we discuss some questions that were raised along the text that help to guide future research.

Competition, coordination, or institutional change? A multi-perspective analysis of historical electricity transitions in Mexico

The electricity sector is a complex dynamic system that has experienced continuous changes since its beginning. The aim of this article is to explore the evolution of historical electricity transitions in Mexico from 1879 to 2012 under the interactive governance approach. Governability provides an analytical framework for investigating the role of actors, technologies, and policies in national energy transitions. By integrating a multi-perspective analytical framework, we applied concepts from energy transitions and policy mixes for sustainability transitions to qualitatively describe social, economic, and technological changes and their relative role in historical transitions. The case study revealed that governability of national energy transitions may vary considerably from one episode to another depending on how governance systems have handled national societal needs and international cooperation agreements. Additionally, different drivers have been identified in shaping electricity transitions in Mexico. First, governance decisions have depended on specific (policy) paradigms that relevant actors have adopted. Second, the article highlights the key role that available (indigenous) energy resources have played in directing the path and pace of electricity production technologies. Third, increasing environmental and climate change concerns have improved the way electricity is produced and used. The analysis conducted suggests that energy transitions governability may be improved by fostering communication and cooperation among actors and institutions to define policy mixes in line with societal needs.

Prospective of the need for a heuristic model for the improvement of home electricity consumption in favor of an energy transition in Mexico

Environmental problems have shown that as the days go by, the estimated negative scenarios are closer to being achieved. Despite this, in Mexico there are few programs that are directed or implemented in response to this need, and those that do exist do not have a systemic vision that ensures sustainability for the different factors that have a correlation with the system. On this premise, the research was carried out from a descriptive theoretical study method that allowed to visualize the background of this sector in a global way and its subsequent territorial delimitation, which when encompassed from the approach of the Transdisciplinary Cyber Cyber System, the different types of the knowledge. All with the purpose of seeking the transition towards beings more aware of their environment and the impact of their actions, for which, using the Cyber-Systemic Planning-Action Process, the different tools available to solve the need under study and with this, the creation of the adaptive methodology to the context and the model for environmental awareness based on contextualization, with the aim that the student population reaches more significant knowledge in relation to their surrounding environment.

Ammonite biostratigraphy of two stratigraphic sections of the La Peña Formation (Aptian, Lower Cretaceous) in Nuevo León State, northeast Mexico

The ammonite record of two stratigraphic sections, La Boca Canyon and La Huasteca Canyon, of the La Peña Formation in Nuevo León State, northeast Mexico, was studied in this work. In Mexico, ammonite provincialism during the Aptian prevents the use of European zonations. We followed previous works where we proposed the critical need to define an independent ammonite zonation for the Central Atlantic Province. The current study constitutes an advance in the development of an Aptian ammonite zonation for Mexico. The methodology employed is the usual in this kind of contribution, but two additional methodologies must be highlighted, a semi-quantitative biostratigraphy and the use of 3D models in showing the more relevant specimens. These methodologies are not new, but are uncommon in the contributions of the majority of the Lower Cretaceous ammonite workers, and can be an interesting example to follow. Three ammonite zones and one subzone were recognized: Dufrenoyia justinae interval Zone, Caseyella aguilerae interval Zone, Kazanskyella minima interval Zone and Dufrenoyia scotti/Burckhardtites nazasensis concurrent range Subzone. In addition, taxonomic contributions in some species of the genera Cheloniceras, Epicheloniceras and Kazanskyella have been made. The lower/upper Aptian transition in Mexico and Europe is discussed. Several options of study have been proposed in order to better characterize the lower/upper Aptian transition in Europe and its correlation with Mexico. This work aims at stabilizing the Mexican zonation and its applicability/reproducibility for the whole Central Atlantic Province.

Eminent Domain and Expropriation Laws: A Century of Urban and Regional Planning in Mexico

This article analyzes two aspects of Mexican law that are relevant for planning practice in the country—eminent domain and expropriation. This article shows that the transition in Mexico from a semi-authoritarian to a democratic electoral political system brought not only substantial variability in the application of laws across states but also in planning practice. Democracy has generated a national debate about property rights issues and has reshaped the State–citizen relationship.

Proximity effects and labour specialization transitions in Mexico: a spatial Markov chain analysis

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the extent to which the manufacturing industries in Mexico exert positive proximity effects on neighbouring states when transitioning to higher levels of labour specialization. By using discrete and spatial Markov chains models, probability transitions of labour specialization and its associated proximate effect to leading states – in terms of either a higher level of specialization or technological intensity – are estimated. The results support the existence of states’ positive (negative) proximity effects on achieving a higher (lower) labour specialization as neighbour states increase (decrease) either their labour specialization or technology intensity level.