Official Name Republic of Mexico Land Area 763,565 sq. miles 1.97 million sq. kilometers Political System Constitutional democratic federation Population 91 million (11th highest) Official Language Spanish President President Ernesto Zedillo

Overview
Mexico is a growing democratic state with a developing economy, located between Central America and the United States. A member of NAFTA, Mexico is a constitutional democracy dominated by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Its 91 million people make it the 11th most populated nation in the world, and its growing productivity per worker coupled with low wages has made it an attractive center of investment for manufacturers interested in selling goods throughout the Americas.

Business Practices Within Mexico
Mexico shares many practices with its NAFTA partners, including office hours of 9 to 5. Fax machines and cellular phones are commonplace. However, many business traditions challenge conventional US contract law. According to (FILL IN THE BLANK), "Yes can mean no and no can mean maybe." Within Mexico, individuals aim not to disappoint a person, and will rarely refuse a deal, invitation, or offer verbally. Frequently, individuals use promises of purchases as ways to "break the ice" and actually have no plans of purchasing your goods or services.

Closure of a business deal requires a good personal relationship between partners, or buyers and sellers. (FILL IN THE BLANK) Written agreements are necessary in order to close deals between individuals or companies, as the telephone and private conversations are viewed as non-binding. Thus, the fax serves as an important remote deal-making device in the absence of mail.

Hiring Practices
Sex, marital and age discrimination in employment is legal in Mexico, with no relation to job duties. Under Mexican law, no individual may work more than 48 hours per week under normal circumstances, though in certain situations, overtime may be paid for hours worked beyond that time. Lunch hours must be paid for by the employer. Salaried, full-time workers are entitled to the following benefits under the law:

• Health Insurance -- Government program co-sponsored by employers
• 15 days of wages at the end of the work year
• Housing development assistance -- Government program co-sponsored by employers
• Retirement/pension
• Holidays -- at least five paid holidays per work year
• Work hour limits -- a single, non-overtime day may not be longer than eight hours
• Profit sharing -- 10% of total profits must be redistributed to employees
• Minimum wage -- Roughly $100 USD per month

Language Regulations
All marketing literature, product manuals, labels, and warranty agreements must be in Spanish, or merchandise/services may be impounded. All signs, restaurant menus, and advertising must be in Spanish. Additional languages are permitted, as long as Spanish is included.

NAFTA
As a member of the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) along with Canada and the United States, Mexico is permitted to export goods into other NAFTA countries with lower taxes and regulation, as well as being required to accept goods from other members at similar rates. Mexico is generally strong in manufacturing and exporting within the NAFTA triad.

Local and Federal Government
State government in Mexico generally matches the federal government's laws, due to the far-reaching regulations the current government has in place, along with the "superiority clause" in the Mexican Constitution. Generally, judges are more liberal with interpretation of federal power when compared to their US counterparts, but this is frequently dealt with by the federal legislature.