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MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Mexico’s young democracy is in a tough place right now. Early returns show business-favorite Felipe Calderon ahead by one percentage point over rival leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. But the official count doesn’t even start until tomorrow, and it could drag on for days. So how is business reacting to all of this? Marketplace Americas Desk Correspondent Dan Grech reports from Mexico City

DAN GRECH: Heading into Sunday’s presidential election, leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador looked like the favorite.

But early returns show pro-business conservative Felipe Calderon eking out a razor-thin victory.

That should be good news for Mexican businesses, but there’s a growing fear that the country could be thrust into chaos if Lopez Obrador contests the result.

ANDRES OPPENHEIMER:“This is the worst possible scenario for Mexico. Mexico already had a problem of having a weak president, now it’s going to have an even weaker president.”

Andres Oppenheimer moderates a political roundable that airs across Latin America.

Conventional wisdom says if Mexico wants to compete globally, it needs to pass fiscal, labor and energy reforms. But for the past three years a divided Congress has led to political gridlock.

OPPENHEIMER:“What this tells us is that Mexico is living in a political paralysis, leaving this country farther and farther behind China and India and Eastern European countries.”

An official vote count will start tomorrow.

In Mexico City, I’m Dan Grech for Marketplace.