Pirated Goods Pose Huge Problems In Mexico

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123769365&ft=1&f=1001

Mexico's multi billion-dollar pirated goods market is a large problem. Government tax revenues and foreign investment are economically hurt by the loss of money from pirated goods and those funds then help organized crime. According to law enforcement officials the black market in Mexico is dominated by the drug cartels. A study conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, that represents U.S. business interest in Mexico, suggests that Mexicans by about $75 billion worth of pirated DVDs, CDs, clothing, computer software, food, whiskey, and other items. This amount far exceeds the amount of revenue generated by Mexico's largest source of revenue which is petroleum which only generates about $25 billion a year. Most Mexican consumers seem to be aware of the problem, but they don't stop buying pirated goods. Mexico could really use all that money which is being stolen from the governments revenue and instead being used to further strengthen the power of organized crime. This is not only an economic problem, but also a social one.