Hacia un Nuevo Balance de la Política Social en La Ciudad de México

THIS BOOK EMERGED in a climate of political change in Mexico City, during the transition towards a democratically elected government in the capital, with greater public participation in the political process. It is one of the outcomes of enhanced links between academics and politicians in the city and is the result of collaboration between the metropolitan government and higher education institutions. It aims to support medium-term programmes for health services, education, programmes for vulnerable groups, sport, culture, nutrition, housing and social services by presenting a diagnosis of a variety of policies within different urban sectors. By way of introduction, the book examines the role of the state, the market and civil organizations in determining social policy in general.

The remaining chapters focus on a variety of policies within Mexico City itself, such as policies to manage distribution, health policies, cultural policies and moves to alleviate poverty. Each chapter opens with a brief diagnosis of the sector under analysis, followed by an evaluation of present policy and recommendations of how to consolidate government activity in the sector. The book concludes with chapters on social participation in Mexico City and an examination of the prospects for social policy into the twenty-first century. It recognizes the profound changes that have taken place in Mexico's development pattern over the last decade and the effect that these have had on social development within the country and in the capital, where living conditions have deteriorated. The deterioration of living standards, together with political democratization, have led to greater popular participation and a need for the redefinition of social policy in the city.