The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned Mexico faces persistent productivity stagnation despite financial stability. This assessment appears in the 2026 Economic Study of Mexico presented alongside the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness. Officials highlight limited per capita gross domestic product growth compared to regional peers in the Americas. Estimates project gross domestic product expansion of 1.4% for 2026 and 1.7% for 2027.
This trajectory contrasts sharply with the performance of Chile and Costa Rica. The gap widens further when comparing Mexico to emerging Asian economies. Alicia Caldera, Division Head at the OECD Economics Department, emphasized capitalizing on nearshoring advantages for the country. She stated the need to preserve macrofiscal stability while boosting productivity levels.
Alberto González, Deputy Division Head, identified investment as the missing growth engine for the economy. Investment in construction and machinery equipment continues to weaken significantly across the board. This lack of capital formation hampers long-term economic potential for the workforce. Experts argue that private sector confidence requires immediate policy attention.
González proposed creating fiscal space for productivity-enhancing expenditures in the national budget. Property taxes, vehicle taxes, and value-added tax are reportedly underutilized by the government. The specialist suggested improving collection efficiency on these specific levies immediately. Market concentration in telecommunications also requires regulatory intervention to function properly.
Digitalization serves as a key driver for enhancing productivity levels across the broader economy. High informality rates exceeding 50% correlate directly with low educational attainment levels. Addressing school abandonment in secondary education is essential for workforce development. Water stress and distribution losses pose additional infrastructure challenges for the region.
More than half of the water resource is wasted during distribution processes nationally. The OECD linked these issues to broader economic inefficiencies affecting growth. Future policy must address resource management alongside fiscal reforms. Watch for government response to these recommendations in upcoming legislative sessions and budget proposals.
