Reducing Poverty in Mexico: The Case of the State of Oaxaca

The latest data from Mexico’s National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) indicated that there were 55.7 million people living in poverty in 2020, 43.9% of the total population, with many impoverished states concentrated in the south. Among Mexico’s southern states, Oaxaca has made notable advances in reducing poverty and extreme poverty to its lowest levels since 2008.  



Oaxaca ranks first place nationally in increasing access to basic household utilities and third in expanding access to social security services. What policies has the government of Oaxaca implemented to achieve poverty reduction? To what extent could Oaxaca serve as a model for poverty reduction for other states in Mexico, and Latin America more broadly? 



On September 22, from 9:00am to 10:15am ET, the Mexico Institute held a presentation of the most recent CONEVAL report by Dr. Nabor Cruz Marcelo, Executive Director CONEVAL. Following the presentation, Dr. Susan W. Parker, a professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy, and Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat provided remarks on the implementation of successful policies that have promoted economic development, and reduced poverty in the state.