Irregular settlements in Mexico, 1990-2000 : case study : ejido lands in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Aguascalientes is a medium-sized city in Mexico. Its location and industrial policies have proven favorable to the continuing arrival of many industries. Immigrants are easily inserted into the labor market, but the access to low-cost housing for the workers is difficult. Nevertheless, the city continues to attract newcomers. The economy in Mexico collapsed in the early 90's, and many housing programs at the local level were cancelled, and housing prices became expensive. Consequently, people opted for less expensive housing solutions. One of the alternatives was to build on the ejido land, (expropriated lands handed over to land-less people in the form of collective holding and tenancy) a sui-generis tenure of land that has existed in Mexico since 1917. The analysis of both the ejido lands as a target of irregular human settlements and the consolidation process of these areas is the subject of this study