California’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has given it the fifth place in the world economy. According to Governor Gavin Newsom, California’s economic growth has remained steady over the past seven years and has reached a GDP equivalent to $3.9 billion dollars by the end of 2023, with a 6.1% growth rate over 2022.(1)
California faces challenges of housing prices for sale and rent, regional socioeconomic inequality reflecting annual income, homelessness and other issues such as health issues due to the use of banned substances. In contrast, the GDP per capita in Baja California was $9,952, above the average income of $8,326 per year in Mexico at the end of 2020.(2) For Molnar, the per capita income in San Diego was $66,266 in 2020, ranked 32nd out of 384 nationally.(3)
Poverty, education and innovation for development
In Rosarito, the 2020 census counted 126,890 people, 40,796 in poverty representing 32.15%, that is, 1 out of every 3 human beings.(4) Baja California ranked seventh in Mexico for its GDP, and eighth for its GDP per capita.(5) Poverty in Rosarito reflected inequities, visually perceived in housing and people working to survive, as measured by socioeconomic and government indicators. Population growth, including migration, seems to have outpaced job generation. However, there is no economic diversification, no innovation and no program to attract nearshoring investments.
It is necessary to promote university education as a factor that contributes to improving the quality of life. Culturally, customs and social imaginaries prevail more than law and universal values. Education has proven to be a way to reduce poverty.
Access to health services and addiction prevention
The health systems are not optimal; there is no public hospital with specialties for workers affiliated with the Social Security (IMSS). The people most affected are those who also suffer from poverty, due to the lack of access to services, medicines and treatment. Before the migrant caravans, Rosarito had the presence of foreigners, generally from the United States, some of them retirees. Recently, people from Russia, Ukraine, Congo, Haiti or other countries can be seen without medical services. In addition to this condition, people with severe health damages caused by drugs are seen wandering the streets, some aggressive and others with their personal safety at risk, due to their defenseless condition.
International cooperation for development, peace and violence prevention programs
Violence and insecurity led to 93.78 intentional homicides per 100 inhabitants in Rosarito in 2020,(6) compared to 107.05 in Tijuana.(7) In Rosarito there are risks caused by the lack of drinking water and the contamination of the subsoil, coasts and seas by sewage from human settlements or companies. Rosarito is a community that requires intervention programs with the participation of international development agencies, mainly those oriented to peace, justice, migration, strengthening of institutions, infrastructure and local economy, which help reduce inequalities on the border and promote regional integration.
1. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/07/15/californias-economy-leads-the-nation/
2. https://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/economia/pibpc.aspx?tema=e
4. https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/696624/02_005_BC_Playas_de_Rosarito.pdf
5. https://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/economia/pibpc.aspx?tema=e
6. https://www.seguridadbc.gob.mx/Estadisticas/2022/inci_Rosarito.pdf?id=1123706
7. https://www.seguridadbc.gob.mx/Estadisticas/2022/inci_Tijuana.pdf?id=1700923444