<P> The Mexican economy has had an unprecedented macroeconomic stability, which has reduced inflation and interest rates to record lows and has increased per capita income . In spite of this, enormous gaps remain between the urban and the rural population, the northern and southern states, and the rich and the poor . Some of the unresolved issues include the upgrade of infrastructure, the modernization of the tax system and labor laws, and the reduction of income inequality . Tax revenues, all together 19.6 percent of GDP in 2013, are the lowest among the 34 OECD countries . </P> <P> The economy contains rapidly developing modern industrial and service sectors, with increasing private ownership . Recent administrations have expanded competition in ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution and airports, with the aim of upgrading infrastructure . As an export - oriented economy, more than 90% of Mexican trade is under free trade agreements (FTAs) with more than 40 countries, including the European Union, Japan, Israel, and much of Central and South America . The most influential FTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which came into effect in 1994, and was signed in 1992 by the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico . In 2006, trade with Mexico's two northern partners accounted for almost 90% of its exports and 55% of its imports . Recently, the Congress of the Union approved important tax, pension and judicial reforms, and reform to the oil industry is currently being debated . Mexico had 15 companies in the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world's largest companies in 2016 . </P> <P> Mexico's labor force is 52.8 million as of 2015 . The OECD and WTO both rank Mexican workers as the hardest - working in the world in terms of the amount of hours worked yearly, although profitability per man - hour remains low . </P> <P> Mexican president Porfirio Díaz brought unprecedented economic growth during the last quarter of the nineteenth century . This growth was accompanied by foreign investment and European immigration, the development of an efficient railroad network and the exploitation of the country's natural resources . Annual economic growth between 1876 and 1910 averaged 3.3% . </P>

How did 50 years of economic growth affect income distribution in mexico