Third World Catemaco

Okeechobee, Florida is almost a match for Catemaco, Veracruz.

Both are counties, with the principal city also named after the county. Both sit on the shore of a major lake, and both are near oceans, (Atlantic and Gulf). Both are principally agricultural, and both are are considered hick towns, with per capita income on the low national scale. 

The major difference is that Okeechobee is flatter than a tortilla, while Catemaco is nice and hilly. Populations are similar, 42,000 for Okee and 48,000 for Catemaco.

And now the grim comparison:

Okeechobee has a budget of 96 million for the year, which converts to 2,285 dollars per person.

Catemaco had a budget of 104 million, translating to 2,166 pesos per person. That's about 180 dollars each.

Okeechobee estimates for 2009 per capita income are 18,394 dollars.

The state of Veracruz thoughfully does not report such irrelevant statistics, therefore I'll guess it.

Catemaco 2009 per capita income  was 25,000 pesos per year on the high end. That is app. 2,083 dollars each.

So very roughly, Okeechobeans are 10 times richer and spend 10 times more on their government than Catemaqueños.

Now compare that to housing, utility, food, transportation, entertainment or any other costs.

Except for some housing and maids, there is nothing in Mexico that costs 10 times less than in Okeechobee. Costs are much closer to 50 to 100% or more of what gets spent in Okeechobee.

And now wonder about:
Mexican exports to the United States reached a record US$229.7 billion last year.
The banking industry’s profits in Mexico reached US$6.22 billion in 2010.

And read the recent Wikileak article about the richest men in Mexico and the state of its economy.

http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/07/08MEXICO2187.html