In a recent interview during the Annual Meetings of the IDB Group in Asunción, Paraguay, Santiago Levy, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, emphasized that Mexico's persistent low economic growth is a result of long-standing productivity issues rather than temporary factors like the uncertainty surrounding the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (T-MEC) or international geopolitical tensions. According to Levy, this structural problem has existed for at least 25 years, indicating that it is deeply rooted in the country's economic framework rather than being influenced by short-term uncertainties.

Levy's comments come in light of the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) forecast, which predicts that Mexico's economy will grow by only 1.3 percent in 2026. This estimated growth rate reflects a broader trend of economic deceleration that has characterized Mexico over recent decades. Levy argues that even amidst external uncertainties and changing international conditions, Mexico's underlying productivity issues remain a significant barrier to economic prosperity.

By highlighting the structural nature of these productivity problems, Levy calls for a reassessment of the narratives surrounding Mexico's economic challenges. Rather than placing blame solely on external factors like T-MEC or global economic shifts, Levy encourages policymakers to focus on addressing the intrinsic barriers to productivity that have historically hindered Mexico's economic growth. This shift in perspective could lead to more effective strategies aimed at revitalizing the Mexican economy.