1. Warm up
In the vocabulary section of your binder write down the following definitions:
rural decline – worsening economic conditions in the country-side, including rising unemployment and growing poverty
spatial inequality - an unequal distribution of wealth or resources over a geographic area

2. Spatial Inequality in Mexico City
From Cardboard to Castles

4. Definitions
rural decline – worsening economic conditions in the country-side, including rising unemployment and growing poverty
spatial inequality - an unequal distribution of wealth or resources over a geographic area

5. The Geographic Setting
Mexico City – one of world’s most populated cities, 7000ft above sea level
1325 Aztecs
Tenochtitlán “A City of Wonders”
1521 Spain conquered the Aztecs

6. Your Guides to Mexico City

7. Challenges in the Countryside
Only 15% of land is good for farming.
Best land owned by a few wealthy owners.
Small farmers can’t buy seeds, fertilizer, and machinery to compete with large farms.
Many end up selling their land.

8. Challenges in the Countryside
Only 15% of Mexico’s land is good for farming.
Most of the best land is held by a few wealthy owners.
Small farmers can’t buy seeds, fertilizer, and machinery to compete with large farms.
Many end up selling their land.

9. Migration to Cities
They hope to get jobs, to enjoy a higher standard of living, and to get their children into better schools.

10. Migration to Cities
Farmers migrate to the city to try to find a better life.
They hope to get jobs that pay a decent wage, to enjoy a higher standard of living, and to get their children into better schools.

11. Neighborhood Visit 1

12. Listen carefully to the interview
Listen carefully to the interview. Then complete as much of the survey as you can.

13. Mexico City’s Growth
Spreading up the Valley of Mexico and filling in the valley’s lakes

14. Mexico City’s Growth
Mexico City is spreading up the sides of the Valley of Mexico and filling in areas that were once covered by the valley’s lakes.

15. Problems Not enough land, housing, or clean water Traffic
Air pollution
Not enough jobs
Poverty and crime increased

16. Problems
There is not enough land, housing, or clean water for the city’s population.
Roads are clogged with traffic. Buses and subways are packed.
One of the city’s worst problems is air pollution.
There are not enough jobs for everyone.
Poverty and crime have increased.

17. Neighborhood Visit 2

18. Interview 2

19. Mexico City’s Recent Migrants
Live in slums in one-room shacks
Houses lack electricity and water
Dirt streets trashed
Little or no work.

20. Mexico City’s Recent Migrants
They often live in slums on the edge of the city in one-room shacks made of cardboard and junk.
Many of these houses lack electricity and water.
The dirt streets are often littered with trash.
Many of these people have little or no work.

21. Mexico City’s Working Poor
Closer to the center of the city than the slums
Cinder-block homes with metal or tar-covered roofs
Rundown apartment buildings.
Have electricity but not always running water.
The streets are usually paved

22. Mexico City’s Working Poor
They live in neighborhoods that are usually closer to the center of the city than the slums are.
Some live in cinder-block homes with metal or tar-covered roofs. Others live in rundown apartment buildings.
They usually have electricity but not always running water.
The streets are usually paved.

23. Neighborhood Visit 3

24. Interview 3

25. Mexico City’s Middle Class
Work in business, education, or government.
Live near the center of the city or in modern suburbs farther away.
They can usually afford some luxuries, such as a telephone.

26. Mexico City’s Middle Class
Many of the middle class work in business, education, or government.
They live in houses or apartment buildings near the center of the city or in modern suburbs farther away.
They can usually afford some luxuries, such as a telephone.

27. Mexico City’s Upper Class
Very wealthy
Large landowners or business or government leaders
Luxurious lifestyle.
Large estates with high walls and security systems.
They often hire the working poor as maids, gardeners, and drivers.

28. Mexico City’s Upper Class
Very wealthy people who are large landowners or business or government leaders belong to the upper class. They have a luxurious lifestyle.
They live on large estates with high walls and security systems.
They often hire the working poor as maids, gardeners, and drivers.

29. Neighborhood Visit 4

30. Interview 4

31. Answer the following questions:
What is are some major causes of rural decline in Mexico?
What are some important “pull factors” that draws farm families to Mexico City?

32. Neighborhood Visit 1
Itzapalapa, Magdalena Contreras

33. Neighborhood Visit 2
Azcapotzalco, Coyoacán

34. Neighborhood Visit 3
Iztacalco

35. Neighborhood Visit 4
Benito Juárez