Bush School Graduate Student Presents Research on Trade and Regional Inequality in Mexico City
Colleen Goggin, a recent Master of International Affairs graduate from the Bush School, presented her original research as a Texas Lyceum Fellow at the “Beyond Borders: Immigration & the Texas Economy” conference held on July 10, 2025, in Mexico City. Under the mentorship of Dr. Raymond Robertson—Director of the Mosbacher Institute—her study, “Trade, Wages, and Regional Growth: How Mexico’s Economic Geography Shapes Shared Opportunity,” illuminates how integration with global trade networks has contributed to higher wages and economic growth in Mexico’s northern regions, compared with more isolated southern states.
On July 10, Colleen Goggin, a recent graduate of the Master of International Affairs program at the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University, presented her original research as a Texas Lyceum Fellow at this year’s Texas Lyceum Quarterly Conference, “Beyond Borders: Immigration & the Texas Economy,” in Mexico City, Mexico.
Her research paper, titled “Trade, Wages, and Regional Growth: How Mexico’s Economic Geography Shapes Shared Opportunity,” investigates how exposure to global trade impacts regional wages and economic development across Mexico. Conducted under the guidance of Dr. Raymond Robertson—an expert in trade and labor markets and Director of the Mosbacher Institute—the study reveals striking disparities between Mexico’s northern states, which are closely integrated into U.S. supply chains, and southern regions that remain largely isolated from international trade. Mexico is Texas’ number one trading partner.
The paper, published by the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy at the Bush School, draws on extensive data from INEGI, DataMexico, and the World Bank, covering the period from 2010 to 2023. It shows that manufacturing salaries in northern Mexican states more than doubled over the period, while southern states saw much smaller gains. These findings highlight how geographic proximity to trade routes and infrastructure access are critical for equitable economic development.
The Texas Lyceum Fellowship is awarded annually to a graduate student at the Bush School to conduct independent research on key public policy issues affecting Texas and the broader region. Fellows present their work at one of the Texas Lyceum’s quarterly conferences, a premier venue for nonpartisan dialogue among state leaders.
As a 2025 Lyceum Fellow, Goggin joins a growing list of Bush School students whose research has helped inform public discourse and policy. Her findings underscore the importance of targeted infrastructure investment and cross-border collaboration to support inclusive economic growth.
To read Goggin’s full research summary, visit https://bush.tamu.edu/mosbacher/takeaway.
