Lifestyles Of The Rich And Poor In Mexico City

As the ranks of Mexico's rich swell, the haves and the have-nots in Mexico City are living increasingly separate lives. Walled cities are being built to separate the upper and lower classes in Mexico's capital, while bullet-proof evening wear is selling briskly.

1 minute read

November 28, 2006, 8:00 AM PST

By Alex Pearlstein

"While poor migrants to the United States grab most of the headlines, the ranks of Mexico's rich are growing at a rapid pace. In a country where the disparity between rich and poor is greater than ever, the rich live in surreal but safe mini-cities of gleaming, geometric towers."

"The disparities between rich and poor haven't closed in Mexico, despite the promises of outgoing President Vicente Fox's administration. The economic inequalities are still among the highest in Latin America. In Mexico, 47 percent of the population lives on less than $4 a day. Physical separation is a hallmark of wealth in Mexico, where high walls often form a barrier between rich and poor."

"With extreme wealth comes extreme security. A couple of blocks from the dealership is Mexico's first bulletproof boutique...In recent weeks, anti-explosive clothes were flying off the shelves after guerrilla groups bombed a bank and the electoral court that declared Calderon president."

FULL STORY: Life surreal for rich among Mexico poor

Sunday, November 26, 2006 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Social / Demographics North America Mexico

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