Implementation of targeted and universal social policies: health and basic income in Mexico, 2008 – 2021

Abstract

Social policy aims to generate homogeneous situations in the most vulnerable social sectors, whose purpose is to reduce the gap of social inequality established by the neoliberal system, and so, ensure the access to the minimum requirements for  living in dignity. Thus, the State has assigned its scarce resources to achieve universal access to basic rights for the most vulnerable social classes. This descriptive-quantitative research has been inspired by the impact of the implementation of these policies to strengthen both, the General Health Law and the Universal Basic Income in order to reduce inequality, in Mexico. The evidence presented on this article show that it has been possible to lower some of such indicators of poverty through these social policies, yet, despite efforts, poverty has continued to increase due to the rise of other indicators, such as job instability, and the scarcity of basic services. In conclusion, these are the pending points the Mexican state must resolve in order to ensure the universality of basic human rights.