Back to home page

 Mexico City (Mexico)

ESTUDIOS DEMOGRAFICOS Y URBANOS

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1991 - VOLUME 6, NUMBER 3
93.24.01 - Spanish - Héctor Ogaz PIERCE
The Gompertz-Makeham Function in the Description and Projection of 
Demographic Phenomena (La funcion de Gompertz-Makeham en la 
descripcion y proyeccion de fenomenos demograficos) (p. 485-520)
The main aim of this article is to examine the application of the 
Gompertz-Makeham function in detail and, more specifically, its 
mathematical formulation and development. Another objective is to 
test an iterative method for obtaining parameters, by which one 
may obtain an optimal function best describing the behaviour of a 
population in the face of demographic phenomena. (DEMOGRAPHIC 
MODELS, POPULATION PROJECTIONS)
93.24.02 - Spanish - Oscar CUELLAR
Means of Support, Fertility and Social Reproduction among 
Peasants: Three Approaches (Medios de vida, fecundidad y 
reproduccion social de los compesinos, tres enfoques) (p. 521-543)
This article examines interpretations regarding the relationship 
between means of support and fertility, taking into account views 
on social reproduction among peasants. The author begins with a 
brief summary of theories put forth by Malthus and then examines 
neo-Malthusian models which use, as an independent variable, the 
amount of land and, as a dependent variable, the number of 
children. He notes the existence of a positive ratio between these 
variables and then demonstrates that, in Chayanov's model, the 
number of children is used as an independent variable. He compares 
these assumptions with those of Palerm who suggests the existence 
of an inverse ratio between the amount of land available and 
fertility. The paper ends with a discussion of assumptions about 
the rationality, motivations and guiding values the different 
approaches attribute to economic and demographic behaviour among 
peasants. (MALTHUSIANISM, FERTILITY, LAND RESOURCES, PEASANTRY)
93.24.03 - Spanish - Jane RUBIN-KURTZMAN
The Determinants of Female Labor Supply: Mexico City, 1970 (Los 
determinantes de la oferta de trabajo femenino en la ciudad de 
México, 1970) (p. 545-582)
The dramatic increase in female employment in Mexico began after 
1930 and continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s. With the short-
lived exception of the 1978-1979 oil boom, the decades of the 
seventies and eighties, conversely, were a period of progressive 
economic deterioration. The present analysis of 1970 is part of a 
study which examines why and how the female labour force in Mexico 
City continued to expand. The principal determinants of female 
employment in 1970 were marital status, gender of the household 
head and the number of additional non-workers in the household. 
The most disadvantaged women, namely formerly married women with 
children, women living in female-headed households and poor, rural 
migrants, were most likely to work. (MEXICO, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT, 
HOUSEHOLD HEAD)
93.24.04 - Spanish - Angélica Reyna BERNAL
Migration Policies and Population Distribution in Mexico: Regional 
Implementation and Impacts (Politicas de migracion y distribucion 
de poblacion en México: ejecucion e impactos regionales) (p. 583-
611)
The author begins by analyzing the legal framework of migration 
and population redistribution policies in Mexico since 1973, when 
the General Law on Population was passed. In that framework, she 
points out several institutional deficiencies and contradictions. 
In the second section, she discusses demographic planning in this 
field (1970 to 1990). One of her findings is that the basic 
elements making population policies on migration operational did 
not move in the desired direction, i.e., to modify migratory and 
population distribution so as to achieve expected goals. Despite 
the continuity of population policies on migration, the 
implementation of such policies still poses diverse obstacles. 
(MEXICO, INTERNAL MIGRATION, MIGRATION POLICY, REGIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT)
93.24.05 - Spanish - Araceli DAMIAN
Urban Research in Mexico, 1980-1990 (La investigacion urbana en 
México, 1980-1990) (p. 613-648)
The purpose of this paper is to assess urban research in Mexico 
during the 1980s in different disciplines. The study is divided 
into three sections: (1) continuing themes; (2) new themes on 
urban issues; (3) state policies regarding urban issues. The 
author notes that, in the 1970s, research dealt with themes such 
as housing, urbanization and social movements while, in the 1980s, 
the main themes were transportation, services, the environmental 
impact of economic development and food and health problems. 
(MEXICO, URBANIZATION, REGIONAL PLANNING)
93.24.06 - Spanish - José Luis LEZAMA
Cities, Women and Conflict: Itinerant Trade in Mexico City 
(Ciudad, mujer y conflicto: el comercio ambulante en el DF) (p. 
649-675)
The author describes the general socio-economic characteristics of 
a group of itinerant sales women in the historical centre of 
Mexico City. The first part entails a presentation of the theme 
"women and work". Following is a discussion of problems affecting 
those most directly involved in itinerant trade in Mexico City. 
(MEXICO, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT)
93.24.07 - Spanish - Fe Esperanza Cardenas 
CERVERA and Vincent REDONNET
Modernization of AHMSA, an Iron and Steel Company Located in 
Monclova, in the State of Coahuila and its Impact on Population 
(Modernizacion de la empresa AHMSA en Monclova, Coahuila y su 
impacto sobre la poblacion) (p. 677-716)
As of the economic crisis of 1982, Mexico began to witness a 
series of structural changes in its socio-economic policies which 
came to have repercussions on AHMSA. During those troubled times, 
AHMSA was forced to modernize in order to ensure its survival. 
And, although this process was indispensable for the firm, it came 
to have an effect on Monclova, in particular on the labour force. 
(MEXICO, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, LABOUR FORCE, INDUSTRIAL 
ENTERPRISES)
JANUARY-APRIL 1992 - VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1
93.24.08 - Spanish - Deborah E. KANTER
Widows and Neighbors, Corn Fields and Magueys. The Impact of 
Population Growth in the Toluca Valley: The Case of Tenango del 
Valle in the Eighteenth Century (Viudas y vecinos, milpas y 
magueyes. El impacto del auge de la poblacion en el Valle de 
Toluca: el case de Tenango del Valle en el siglo XVIII) (p. 19-33)
The main objective of this article is to point out the various 
effects of the considerable population growth experienced by 
Tenango del Valle in the eighteenth century. Based on data from 
the census taken by the parish priest in 1770, as well as data 
from other registers of inhabitants made between 1748 and 1848 for 
that region, the author analyzes the extension and growth of that 
parish, the ethnic composition and the changes that took place, 
especially within the seat of the parish, where the number of 
Spanish or Mestizo families rose sevenfold during the period under 
review. The indigenous community still had a good basis for 
subsistence, but, in time, the progressive fragmentation of 
property, along with the leasing of lands to the Spaniards, ended 
up impoverishing the indigenous families in that area. As a 
result, that group generally lived in poverty and, thus, was 
forced to devote itself to other activities. Lastly, the author 
looks into the status of women in this context, and stresses the 
high percentage of widows and of women as heads of household in 
the region. (MEXICO, POPULATION GROWTH, WOMEN'S STATUS)
93.24.09 - Spanish - Francisco Garcia GONZALEZ
The Walls of Private Life and the Family: Homes and the Size of 
Families in Zacatecas in the Early Decades of the Nineteenth 
Century (Los muros de la vida privada y la familia: casa y tamano 
familiar en Zacatecas. Primeras décadas del siglo XIX) (p. 35-52)
The analysis begins with a detailed description of the concepts of 
home and family. According to household censuses conducted in 
Zacatecas and based on variables such as the trade or occupation 
of the head of the family, the size of families in Zacatecas at 
that time is determined. (MEXICO, FAMILY, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY)
93.24.10 - Spanish - Agustin Grajales PORRAS 
and José Luis Aranda ROMERO
Socio-demographic Profile of Tehuacan During the Vice-Royalty 
(Perfil sociodemografico de Tehuacan durante el virreinato) (p. 
53-76)
The article provides a geo-historical panorama of the Tehuacan 
region, a valley so rich in natural resources that it favoured the 
development of cultures dating as far back as ten millenniums. At 
present, the district is the most important economic, political 
and cultural centre in the south of the state of Puebla. The 
authors reconstruct the transformations it experienced in terms of 
its political and administrative structure and also outline the 
evolution of population from ancient times to the final years of 
the colonial period. The data utilized range from primitive 
tallies of indigenous payers of tribute and families to the 
military census taken in the year 1791. Two hundred years 
afterwards, that census is used by the authors to describe the 
demographic and social order of the city of Tehuacan de las 
Granadas. (MEXICO, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
DEVELOPMENT)
93.24.11 - Spanish - Lourdes Marquez MORFIN
Cholera in Mexico City in the Nineteenth Century (El colera en la 
Ciudad de México en el siglo XIX) (p. 77-93)
Cholera epidemics, such as the one currently affecting a large 
part of the American continent, were recorded during the 
nineteenth century. This article presents an analysis of the two 
epidemics that devastated Mexico City, one in 1833 and the other 
between 1848 and 1850, based on various documentary sources. In 
addition, it delves into all the political, economic and social 
factors that had bearing on the spread and impact of the disease. 
(MEXICO, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, EPIDEMICS, CHOLERA)
93.24.12 - Spanish - Maria del Pilar VELASCO 
M.L.
The 1833 Cholera Epidemic and Mortality in Mexico City (La 
épidemia de colera de 1833 y la mortalidad en la Ciudad de México) 
(p. 95-135)
This is a new attempt to understand the functioning of vital 
statistics during the nineteenth century, which analyzes the death 
rate caused by cholera morbus in Mexico City during the year 1833. 
On the basis of data estimated by numerous authors concerning the 
total volume of the population and various statistical and 
demographic methods, the author has calculated the probable 
population of Mexico City in 1833 and its age and sex composition. 
Parish archives were the basis for estimating mortality levels. 
Abbreviated life tables were calculated, by sex, for 1832 and 
1833. It is observed that almost 5% of Mexico City's total 
population died from cholera. The health measures implemented 
during the epidemic brought about significant changes in the 
social, economic and urban organization of the city. (MEXICO, 
HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, EPIDEMICS, CHOLERA, MORTALITY)
93.24.13 - Spanish - Juan Javier PESCADOR C.
Pre-industrial Urban Nuptiality and the Limits of Crossbreeding: 
Characteristics and Evolution of Nuptiality Patterns in Mexico 
City, 1700-1850 (La nupcialidad urbana preindustrial y los limites 
del mestizaje: caracteristicas y evolucion de los patrones de 
nupcialidad en la Ciudad de México, 1700-1850 (p. 137-168)
The marriage market of Mexico City in the eighteenth century 
evidenced unique characteristics: a marked disproportion between 
the male and female populations of marriageable age, strong socio-
ethnic restrictions and considerable tendencies toward racial 
endogamy. These factors as a whole generated a nuptiality pattern 
characterized by older males and relatively young females at 
marriage; at the same time, they favoured the rise of a 
considerable "black" marriage market, as reflected in the high 
rates of illegitimacy. (MEXICO, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, NUPTIALITY, 
ENDOGAMY)
93.24.14 - Spanish - Rodolfo CHENA R.
The Population of a Parish in New Spain in the Eighteenth Century: 
Santa Maria de la Presentacion de Chilapa (La poblacion de una 
parroquia novohispana del siglo XVIII: Santa Maria de la 
Presentacion de Chilapa) (p. 169-192)
This paper discusses the demography of a parish of colonial 
Mexico, Santa Maria de la Presentacion de Chilapa, during the last 
quarter of the eighteenth century, through an analysis of parish 
records of the time and the Bucareli census. First, an estimate is 
made of the population and of the breakdown of that population by 
sex, age and marital status. The demographic information obtained 
is then related to historical and anthropological data. The 
analysis adds to our understanding of the slow but gradual 
recovery of the population of colonial Mexico, decidedly immersed 
in epidemics and famines that causes periods of high growth as 
well as other periods of no population growth. (MEXICO, HISTORICAL 
DEMOGRAPHY, EPIDEMICS, FOOD SHORTAGE)
93.24.15 - Spanish - Guillermo Vargas URIBE
Historical Geography of the Population of Michoacan in the 
Eighteenth Century (Geografia historica de la poblacion de 
Michoacan. Siglo XVIII) (p. 193-222)
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the demographic sources 
available for the area of Michoacan, especially for the eighteenth 
century. It includes aspects of human geography, such as the 
population density, and the informational potential of military, 
civil, tributary and ecclesiastical documents of the region is 
analyzed for the colonial period. (MEXICO, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY)
93.24.16 - Spanish - Mario MARGULIS
Population and Society in Imperial Spain (Poblacion y sociedad en 
la Espana imperial) (p. 223-272)
This article focuses on the structural conditions that 
characterized imperial Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth 
centuries and their effect on the demography of the period. The 
author argues that the political, economic and social 
contradictions prevalent in the nation - such as imperial 
expansion, the strengthening of the seigniorial system and that of 
the Church, the heavy tax burdens and the decline of agriculture, 
among others - caused a lag in capital accumulation. This sum of 
contradictions helps explain the easy spread of epidemics and the 
high rate of mortality in Spanish territory. (SPAIN, HISTORICAL 
DEMOGRAPHY, SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS)

Back to home page