China and India are almost always cited in discussions of the world’s rising economic powers, but Mexico makes the list much less frequently. It's a glaring omission, says former Mexican President Vicente Fox, considering the country south of the U.S. border is expected to be the world’s fifth largest economy by the year 2040.
In this audio lecture, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Vicente engages in a far-reaching discussion on the country’s challenges and opportunities—from fostering democracy and tapping individuals’ entrepreneurial instincts to broadening NAFTA, adopting a more sensible immigration policy with the United States, and even promoting alternative sources of energy.
Vicente Fox Quesada was the president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006. He is currently co-president (with Pier Ferdinando Casini) of the Centrist Democratic International, an international organization of Christian Democratic political parties. Fox was elected president of Mexico in the 2000 election with 42 percent of the vote. After serving for six years, he returned to his home state of Guanajuato, where he resides with his wife and family. Since leaving the presidency, Fox has been involved in public speaking and the construction of the Vicente Fox Center of Studies, Library, and Museum.
This free podcast is from our Stanford Discussions series.