1. Comparing Latin American Economies
Mexico, Brazil, & Cuba

2. Foreign Exchange Rates
The price of 1 country’s currency compared to another…
1 US dollar = 11 Mexican pesos
1 US dollar = 1.8 Brazilian reals
1 US dollar = .92 Cuban pesos

3. United Mexican States

4. 3 Economic Questions… What to produce? How to produce it?
businesses decide and government approves/denies it
How to produce it?
businesses decide & government regulates procedures
For whom to produce?
businesses decide based on supply & demand (price)
Which economic system does Mexico have?

5. Mexico’s Economic System
Mexico has a mixed economic system, that is closer to market than command.

6. Mexico’s Natural Resources
What’s available?
petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

7. Mexico’s Land Use
What percentage of the land is arable (capable of being farmed)?
12.66%

8. Mexico’s Industries What’s being produced in the factories?
food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
Tourism is also a major industry in Mexico.

9. Mexico’s Literacy Rate
What percentage of people over the age of 15 can read and write?
91%
How long are students required to stay in school?
13 years

10. Mexico’s Unemployment Rate
What percentage of people do not have jobs?
4.1% (however, only 61.1% of people working age have a job)
What percentage of people live in poverty?
18.5%

11. Mexico’s GDP $1.578 trillion (2008)
GDP Per Capita--What is the value of goods and services produced per person?
$14,400 (2008)

12. Federative Republic of Brazil

13. 3 Economic Questions… What to produce? How to produce it?
businesses decide and government approves/denies it
How to produce it?
businesses decide & government regulates procedures
For whom to produce?
businesses decide based on supply & demand (price)
Which economic system does Brazil have?

14. Brazil’s Economic System
Brazil has a mixed economic system.

15. Brazil’s Natural Resources
What’s available?
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

16. Brazil’s Land Use
What percentage of the land is arable (capable of being farmed)?
6.9%

17. Brazil’s Industries What’s being produced in the factories?
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

18. Brazil’s Literacy Rate
What percentage of people over the age of 15 can read and write?
88.6%
How long are students required to stay in school?
14 years

19. Brazil’s Unemployment Rate
What percentage of people do not have jobs? 8%
What percentage of people live in poverty?
22%

20. Brazil’s GDP $2.03 trillion (2008)
GDP Per Capita--What is the value of goods and services produced per person?
$10,300 (2007)

21. Republic of Cuba

22. 3 Economic Questions… What to produce? How to produce it?
government makes all economic decisions
How to produce it?
government decides how to make goods/services
For whom to produce?
whoever the government decides to give them to
Which economic system does Cuba have?

23. Cuba’s Economic System
Cuba has a command economic system.

24. Cuba’s Natural Resources
What’s available?
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

25. Cuba’s Land Use
What percentage of the land is arable (capable of being farmed)?
27.63%

26. Cuba’s Industries What’s being produced in the factories?
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

27. Cuba’s Literacy Rate
What percentage of people over the age of 15 can read and write?
99.8%
How long are students required to stay in school?
16 years

28. Cuba’s Unemployment Rate
What percentage of people do not have jobs?
1.8%
What percentage of people live in poverty?
1.5%

29. Cuba’s GDP
$144.6 billion (2008)
GDP Per Capita--What is the value of goods and services produced per person?
$12,700 (2008)