Wilson Center
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.
Connect With Us
The Mexico Institute's 2021 Elections Guide
The 2021 Election Guide is the ultimate resource for an English-speaking audience interested in understanding the nuts and bolts of Mexican democracy and what is at stake in the country's largest and most important election in history. Using infographics, polls, videos, and expert analysis, the Guide’s coverage includes insights into the parties’ platforms, coalitions, and much more. When it comes to Mexican politics, The Guide is your one-stop-shop.
Visit the WebsiteRe-Building a Complex Partnership: The Outlook for U.S.-Mexico Relations under the Biden Administration
Time to Relaunch the U.S.-Mexico Health Agenda
This policy brief presents the way forward across some of the most important opportunities for enhanced bilateral health collaboration.
A Reset in U.S.-Mexico Relations Also Requires Re-Engagement on Global and Regional Issues
This policy brief discusses opportunities and challenges for regional and global U.S.-Mexico collaboration, as well as the need for a deeper and wider U.S.-Mexico regional and global dialogue.
Fulfilling North America's Promise
North America must be a high priority for the new Biden Administration. This policy brief explores challenges and opportunities for North American cooperation on key issues.
A U.S.-Mexico Economic Agenda for Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth
This policy brief seeks to construct the outlines of a U.S.-Mexico economic agenda, an agenda for competitiveness and inclusive growth.
From Trump to Biden: Mexican Public Opinion and AMLO's Rhetoric
This paper documents Mexican public opinion about the United States and the bilateral relationship and the role presidential rhetoric could play in shaping public views.
Putting Citizens' Security First: Towards a New Chapter in U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation
This policy brief examines the challenges and opportunities faced by U.S.-Mexico security cooperation under President Biden and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and offers specific policy recommendations to improve U.S.-Mexico security cooperation.
Setting the Course Toward Sustainable Migration Cooperation: Levering Bilateral Opportunities
This policy brief recapitulates the evolution of U.S.-Mexico migration policy during the Trump administration. It then identifies four areas for bilateral cooperation on migration management that would benefit both the United States and Mexico.
U.S.-Mexico Energy Relations
This policy brief examines the bilateral energy relationship and opportunities for U.S.-Mexico energy collaboration.
U.S.-Mexico Cooperation on Anti-Corruption: Opening a New Chapter
This policy brief examines opportunities for a joint anti-corruption agenda between the United States and Mexico.
Recent Insights & Analysis
New Publications
Democratic Labor Reform in Mexico
Wilson Memo: "Security & Violence Against Women in Mexico"
The undoing of Mexico's competitive liberalization: The electric industry, rule of law and investment
Pension Reform in Mexico: Guiding Principles for Creating a Sustainable and Balanced System for Private Sector Workers
La digitalización de las Pymes: Propuestas de solución para la recuperación económica post-COVID
Strengthening the Cyber Resilience of North American Energy Systems
Los Argumentos Económicos y Estratégicos para la Energía Renovable en México
Convocation: A Vision for a Stronger U.S.-Mexico Partnership
The Wilson Center's Mexico Institute and the U.S.-Mexico Foundation are pleased to release our report "Convocation: A Vision for a Stronger U.S.-Mexico Partnership."
Our Key Issue Areas
Economic Competitiveness
The area of economic competitiveness has acquired extra importance given the ongoing USMCA ratification process and review of regional economic relations. The Mexico Institute is undertaking research and developing policy ideas for the next stage of U.S.-Mexico economic relations, covering issues ranging from the implementation of the USMCA to innovation and educational exchange.
Migration & Migrants
Mexico Institute work on migration covers key topics, including migration from Central America, farm labor and migrant workers' rights, border security, and opportunities for bilateral cooperation on migration.
Energy and Natural Resources
The Mexico Institute continues its work on cooperation in renewable energy between Mexico and the United States. The Institute also follows energy policies and cooperation on natural resource management between the two countries.
Security & Rule of Law
The Mexico Institute continues to focus on the challenges facing Mexico in the areas of the rule of law and U.S.-Mexico security cooperation, and will continue to produce policy-relevant research in this area.
Border Issues
Rhetoric and reality on the U.S.-Mexico border are often misaligned. In an effort to promote a more realistic and holistic approach to the border, the Mexico Institute focuses on issues of economic development and competitiveness; border security and citizen security; environmental sustainability; and quality of life in the border region.
Farm Labor and Mexico's Export Produce Industry
This ongoing study analyzes production and employment systems in selected commodities that are exported from Mexico to the United States.
5G Beyond Borders
The Wilson Center’s 5G Beyond Borders project explores how the U.S., Canada, and Mexico can work together to maximize the benefits of 5G and related technology through informed policy solutions.
USMCA Resource Page
Welcome to the Wilson Center's USMCA Resource Page. The Mexico Institute and the Canada Institute will provide up-to-date coverage as the USMCA implementation progresses. We invite you to check back frequently for updates to this resource.
North American Workforce Development Initiative
This initiative seeks to establish a forward-looking dialogue among the three North American countries on the issue of workforce development.
Americas 360
Americas 360 is a podcast about the "innumerable ties" among the nations of the Western Hemisphere. Get the inside scoop and the outside perspective on the latest developments from Canada, Latin America, and everywhere in between.
Recent Publications
The Mexico Institute regularly releases new publications. Please check back regularly for the most up-to date publications available.
Our Experts
Andrew I. Rudman
Director, Mexico Institute
Earl Anthony Wayne
Public Policy Fellow
Read more from Earl AnthonyU.S.-Mexico relations are deeply intertwined. Key issues of mutual importance are both international and domestic. These “inter-mestic” issues impact the lives of tens of millions of people on both sides of the border. Americans and Mexicans thus have big stakes in assuring that The United States and Mexico working can tackle shared problems and find good solutions to the vital issues that tie them together, including trade, jobs, crime, border, security, migration, tourism, education exchanges, a shared environment and much more.
Duncan Wood
Vice President for Strategy & New Initiatives; Senior Advisor to the Mexico Institute
Read more from DuncanThere is no other bilateral relationship in the world that touches the lives of Americans on a day-to-day basis more than that of the U.S. & Mexico.
.#Mexico is deadliest country for journalists, who also face government harassment. t.co/BxQJrUPAmL
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