San Miguel: A Mexican Collective Ejido

This is an ethnographic study of a collective ejido in the Laguna region of north central Mexico, the field work being conducted in two periods, 1953 and 1966-67. San Miguel, like most collective ejidos, has been successful in raising agricultural productivity, but is faced with problems of overpopulation and underemployment. The author concentrates on the political structure, family life, religion, education and leisure activities in San Miguel. “With the exception of education and health, there has been no appreciable qualitative or quantitative improvement in community activities since . . . the ejidos were created” (p. 157). He is generally critical of governmental policies and actions relating to collective ejidos.