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Mexico Institute in the News: Arizona missing out on rewards

Christopher Wilson

The Arizona Republic criticizes the state’s government for failing to capitalize on the international business benefits offered by its border with Mexico. In comparison, Texas has exploited the benefits of the border and its exports to Mexico greatly eclipse those of Arizona.

The Arizona Republic, March 31, 2012

For cryin' out loud, people. This should never have happened. It could have been Arizona. But no. Texas gets the attaboys for cashing in on the benefits of a shared international border. And we do mean benefits. While our state was making news for being tough on illegal immigrants, Texas was rustlin' up some business. And we do mean business. Consider the numbers.

In 2008, Arizona's exports to Mexico totaled $5.9 billion. The recession brought that to a low of about $4.5 billion during 2009, but it has been rising steadily ever since, according to figures from the Arizona Commerce Authority. In 2011, Arizona's exports to Mexico totaled $5.7 billion, up from $5.05 billion the previous year. Still below 2008. Not bad until you look at the Lone Star State. In 2008, Texas' exports to Mexico were $62 billion. In 2011, the number had jumped to $87 billion. Instead of losing ground, Texas made progress despite a sour economy. Why? Arizona got sidetracked. Texas tended to business.

"Texas is the state with the closest economic ties to Mexico, and as a result, its economy is growing much faster than the U.S. average"

Christopher Wilson and Andrew Selee, both with the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, wrote in the Dallas Morning News.

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About the Author

Christopher Wilson

Christopher Wilson

Global Fellow, Mexico Institute
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Mexico Institute

The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute.   Read more

Latin America Program

The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action.  Read more