Poverty, development, and quality of life in a Texas border city

Abstract

Although traditionally characterized by poverty and economic stagnation, the Texas border region has become one of the nation's fastest growing areas. This case study, based on Brownsville, examines community conditions as objectively and subjectively experienced phenomena in light of major growth-generated changes transpiring over the 1970s. What impact did growth have on the city and on particular institutional areas, and how did various local sub-populations fare during this period are general questions addressed. Findings (based on data derived through a multi-methodological approach) show that despite significant economic growth, the city continued to rank low in terms of relevant indicators of human well-being. Industrial development generally promoted the expansion of minimum-wage jobs, while unemployment and job insecurity remained high due to overall population growth and the labor-force involvement of Mexican commuters. Although aggregate income in the city jumped, poverty persisted as a dominant feature, befalling almost half of the large Mexican-American population. For the poor, schooling, housing, and health status were still exceptionally problematic, and in some respects, may have worsened during the decade. In general, growth exacerbated various infrastructural and public-service problems. In-migrants from elsewhere in the U.S. (particulary Anglo Americans) typically entered higher-status, better-paying jobs and were found to be the primary beneficiaries of income, and related resource, improvement trends. ...