Carlos "El Reportero" Mendoza
Mexico City · Mexico
Street vendor economy, narco economics, remittance flows
Carlos covers Mexico City's massive informal economy, where an estimated 60% of workers operate outside the formal sector. From the tianguis that generate billions to the remittance flows connecting families across borders, he reports on economic systems that mainstream outlets can't or won't cover. Carlos studied economics at UNAM and has reported from every delegacion in the city.
Population
~9.2M (metro: 21.8M)
City Intel
Largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. Receives more U.S. remittances than any other metropolitan area.
Dispatches Filed
3
Dispatches
Remittance Economics: How $60 Billion Flows From the U.S. to Mexico's Streets
Mexico received over $60 billion in remittances in 2025 — more than its oil revenue, more than its tourism income, more than foreign direct investment. This money arrives in $300 and $500 chunks, sent by workers in the U.S. to families in Mexico. It bypasses banks, funds local businesses, builds houses, and keeps entire communities afloat. The remittance economy is the real NAFTA — a trade deal written by families, not politicians.
Tepito: The Barrio That Sells Everything
Tepito is Mexico City's most infamous market district — a 50-block zone where you can buy anything from bootleg sneakers to live animals to car parts with no questions asked. Its economy is estimated at $1 billion annually, operating entirely in cash with zero tax collection. Authorities have tried to formalize Tepito for decades. Tepito always wins.
The Taco Economy: Street Food as Mexico City's Largest Employer
Mexico City has an estimated 500,000 street food vendors, making tacos the city's largest employer outside the government. A successful taquero can earn more than a bank teller. The supply chains feeding these vendors — from tortilla factories in Puebla to avocado groves in Michoacan — represent a parallel economy that feeds 22 million people daily without a single corporate chain involved.
From the Wire
Community intel and chatter from Mexico City
New digital nomad visa bringing thousands of remote workers. Rents in Roma Norte up 40% in one year.
Feb 8
Peso strengthening against dollar for third straight month. Remittance purchasing power dropping.
Feb 6
Tianguis vendors forming cooperative to negotiate with city government. 10,000 vendors organized across 3 delegaciones.
Feb 5