GINIng up the numbers

Gancho Blog mentions a report which claims Mexico’s GINI coefficient  is the “most equal distribution at any point in the century, and quite probably the best in history.”

The number itself (0.485 for Mexico) is somewhat misleading.  First off, equality of distribution doesn’t mean people are doing well. Canada, Ukraine, Ethiopia and Algeria — which have relatively “good”  GINI coefficients are not by any means in the same socio-economic boat. Secondly, I think the author is using a different co-efficient than most.  Normally, the GINI number is usually expressed as a ratio with 0.0 being absolute equality, and 1.0 being a place where one person holds all the wealth.  He claims the exact opposite (a higher ratio being more equality).

Even if the author is correct that equality of income is rising, it doesn’t mean poverty is not rising.  Any claim that there is not more poverty in Mexico  would fly in the face of every other study and measurement.  Mexicans may indeed be more equal… equally poor.

Gancho’s source seems to be trying to spin a narriative that requires undercutting the Mexican government’s own statistics — as well as those from outside sources — which show a rise in poverty rates.  As with the Republicans in the United States, the PANistas in Mexico are trying … without much success… to sell the concept of cutting social programs during a recession by complaining about the statistics.

Expect a showdown in the new legislature.  Víctor Mayan in The (now pro-PRI) News writes:

President Felipe Calderón on Tuesday was warned that any attempt on his part to shut down anti-poverty programs will be met with a roadblock by Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) legislators.

Senator Manlio Fabio Beltrones, who coordinates PRI members in the Senate, said that in September, when his party becomes the majority in Congress, the PRI will introduce a bill to change the Social Development Law to prevent monies allotted to these programs from being used with electioneering ends.