It's Snowing In Mexico: Think Tanks Promoting A Free Economy
ALEJANDRO CHAFUEN
|
In
this analogy, think tanks are idea “snow machines” and several have
been very active in Mexico. During the last two decades, many who work
for these think tanks, together with some of the world’s best economists, gather every year in the picturesque Mexican town of Los Alamos. Arriving in small planes, long drives, or a combination of both, they arrive to network and charge their intellectual batteries.
Photo: Wikipedia
The patios, water fountains and spacious colonial lobbies lend themselves to friendly discussions. Los Alamos was
one of Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman’s favorite retreats. One key
builder of this conference is Arnold Harberger, the famed UCLA
economist, who has educated dozens of Latin American and Mexican
economists. Clay LaForce, former dean of the business school at UCLA and
former trustee of the Eli Lilly Company, is also instrumental in the
conference. Roberto Salinas, of Mexico’s Business Forum and adjunct
scholar at the Cato Institute, has been handling the logistics for this
program and is a major driving force of efforts for free markets.
The
Los Alamos conference provides a wonderful opportunity to network once a
year and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Germany promotes such
efforts throughout the year. The foundation moved their Latin American
headquarters to Mexico in 2003. Victor Becerra coordinates the
foundation’s Mexico Project, and Sylvia Mercado, through RELIAL, a Latin American network nurtured by Naumann, connects Mexican policy leaders with experts from the Americas.
The
future of the recent reforms announced in Mexico will be influenced by
the work of several dynamic groups, academics and other disseminators of
ideas. What follows is a list of organizations and people to watch.
Centro
de Investigación para el Desarollo A.C (CIDAC) in Mexico is the first
market-oriented think tank that is becoming a lasting institution.
During much of its history, it was identified with its founder,
economist Luis Rubio. Thanks to the consistency, continuity and quality
of its efforts it is growing way beyond its founder. CIDAC was preceded
by a research institute founded in 1980 closely connected with the
banking industry. In 1982, after the banks were nationalized, its major
players decided to build an endowment and launch CIDAC to continue
producing independent research. It took its present form in 1984. The
endowment now covers a small fraction of its operation so CIDAC is more
entrepreneurial than ever.
The
CIDAC team has developed research and communication products that are
influencing the national discussion on economic policies including
industrial, labor and criminal justice policy. During the last year,
CIDAC has played an important role releasing relevant publications,
organizing events and promoting the reforms in the energy sector. Veronica
Baz, who runs the organization, has assembled a team of extremely
talented young collaborators which helps explain its growing presence in
social media. They have over 21,000 Twitter followers, better than many
U.S. think tanks. Luis Rubio remains as chairman of the board and
maintains key connections with the U.S. (he is a board member of
Forbes). CIDAC’s trustees are relevant players in the academic, policy
and business world.
CIDAC has also served as a training camp for intellectual entrepreneurs. Edna Jaime, a former executive director of CIDAC, is now head of Mexico Evalúa.
Founded in 2009, it focuses on measuring and monitoring the impact of
public policy in Mexico. Their most recent work analyzes the importance
of transparency, security and sound fiscal policy. Even though the group
is still young, they have been able to attract sufficient backing from
private sources. Jaime is an articulate and telegenic power in the
Mexican policy world. With a team of approximately 10 people, Mexico
Evalúa will continue to make valuable contributions to Mexico’s future.
Juan Pardinas, a former researcher at CIDAC with a doctorate from the London School of Economics, is the general director of IMCO,
The Mexican Institute for Competitiveness. One of its main intellectual
assets is Alejandro Hope who focuses on crime and homeland security. He
conducts research in areas where Mexico needs urgent reform and
improvement. Another unique product of IMCO is its comparative analysis
of municipal governments.
As
in other countries, intellectual entrepreneurs working in the
academy complement, complete and collaborate with think tanks. I can’t
mention them all, but some of the talented professors and writers
favorable to a free economy include: Isaac Katz at ITAM; Arturo
Damm Arnal at the Universidad Panamericana; José Antonio Aguilar, editor
of Liberty in Mexico and Carlos Elizondo, both of CIDE
(Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas); legal scholar Juan
Javier del Granado at UNAM; Jesús Silva Herzog Márquez, coming from a
family of economists; and Carlos Muñoz Piña, an expert on environmental
issues affiliated with the Instituto Global para la Sostenibilidad.
Several
Mexicans are also helping with their foreign connections. In the area
of trade, Luz Maria de La Mora, collaborates with the International
Center for Trade and Sustainable Development. Herminio Blanco and Manuel
Suárez Mier (both with graduate degrees from the University of
Chicago), as well as Luis de la Calle, affiliated with the Mexico Institute of the Wilson Center, and Federico Reyes with Transparency International, continue to be relevant with contacts in Washington and beyond.
Most, if not all, of the above publish regular columns in the main newspapers, or in market-oriented websites such as Asuntos Capitales.
Some, like Macario Schettino, have their own popular blogs and others,
like Santos Mercado Reyes, a former
Maoist-activist-turned-freedom-champion, conduct unceasing educational
activities.
I
leave for the end the most youthful group. In 2008, when they were in
their early 20s, Armando Regil and his sister Claudia, founded a new
think tank: Instituto de Pensamiento Estratégico Ágora, A.C. (IPEA). Like
traditional think tanks, IPEA focused on educational programs and
generating public policy research. But they also became a “do tank.” One
of IPEA’s most impressive initiatives, now with its own legal standing,
is its One Million Youngsters for Mexico
campaign. It is an independent and nonpartisan citizen initiative
summoning Mexican youth to work together in transforming the country. It
has a presence in 20 cities working in partnership with various
organizations, universities, academics and other specialists. They
already have over 24,000 Twitter followers. Unlike other youth
movements, they pay special attention to responsibility as an essential
element for flourishing in liberty and inspiring their peers to seek a
noble purpose. Armando’s leadership and courage, coupled with his
dynamism, open mind and professionalism, helped him attract a board
of directors with some of Mexico’s top business players. Major
companies such as Google and the Financial Times have added their
support to IPEA. Former presidents and prime ministers from Europe, such
as the late Margaret Thatcher, and José María Aznar, and from the
Americas, such as Alvaro Uribe (Colombia) and Felipe Calderón (México),
among many others, have devoted part of their valuable time to help
promote IPEA’s goals.
In
addition to the efforts above, the Regils are now helping organize the
Los Alamos conference. The old meet the young. Both working together to
unleash Mexico’s energy potential.
With
the dedication of the think tanks, and the hundreds of hard working
intellectuals, it is quite clear that the snow of change is falling in
Mexico. And there doesn’t seem to be any sign of it letting up.
