Doing Business in Mexico Like many other authors, I have often commented about the “trust” issue in business. According to author Francis Fukuyama, “trust” is a human capital that determines the way society develops business. “Trust,” according to Fukuyama, is the probability within a culture that two people who do not know each other are […]
Continue ReadingDoing Business in Mexico When I was in college, national development was a hot topic. We pondered over why some countries develop their economies faster than others. One popular notion was that for countries to develop quickly, their citizens had to have a strong internal sense of control and see their destiny as residing in […]
Continue ReadingDoing Business in Mexico A reality of any manager’s life is attending and calling staff meetings. Another reality is that most managers complain staff meetings are a “waste of time.” When meetings involve Mexican and Anglo-American managers (including most Canadians in the second group), the issue of time-management becomes salient, and in my experience, one […]
Continue ReadingDoing Business in Mexico When U.S. executives are sent to Mexico, they soon hear that Mexicans are “indirect” and “will not give you a straight answer, “especially if what needs to be communicated is unpleasant.” Thus, the generalized statement about the Mexican “vagueness” is often heard among foreigners residing in Mexico. But vagueness is only […]
Continue ReadingDoing Business in Mexico The topic of business ethics is one that too often ends up on the back burner, unless you happen to be a social activist. In business circles, the topic arouses as much interest as a turtle race. The logic of business, chiefly concerned with profit maximization, usually places ethics within the […]
Continue ReadingNote: The Mexican tax system has been updated numerous times since this article was first published; always check with a reputable accountant for up-to-date information. The Mexican tax system has been subjected to comprehensive tax reform legislation, enacted principally in 1986 and 1988. The dramatic changes are an attempt to make it compatible with the […]
Continue Reading“How can I obtain a capital gains, or homestead, tax exemption on the sale of my Mexican real estate?” is one of the most frequently asked questions by expatriate residents of San Miguel when they contemplate selling their homes. Residents may not be aware that the requirement that you live in your Mexican home for […]
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As the world’s environment deteriorates, some of Mexico’s streets and plazas are stepping back toward better ecosystems by going native. Curiously, most ornamental plant species in many Mexican cities are not at all Mexican, but rather, introduced, or exotic, species. However, that’s changing as some Mexican city planners are going native and helping their cities […]
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Mexico’s famous Te-Amo cigar comes from Sihuapan, near Catemaco, Veracruz. The producer — Turrent, Nueva Matacapan Tabacos, S.A. de C.V. — takes its name from the owner, Alberto Turrent, the fifth generation of the cigar manufacturing family. I’m a cigar aficionado myself, and I had the pleasure of talking with Alberto Turrent at length. During […]
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Driving to Yucatan, I made a wrong turn and wound up in the town of Catemaco. A shady beach drive along a huge lake provided a tranquil setting reminiscent of Hollywood’s 1930s America. I pulled to the curb to enjoy a walk and a cigar. The setting totally captivated me. The delight I discovered from my […]
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