Abstract

SOBRINO, Jaime. Industrial Location and Geographic Concentration in Mexico. Estud. demogr. urbanos [online]. 2016, vol.31, n.1, pp.9-56. ISSN 2448-6515.

This article reviews the country's macroeconomic developments during the period 1970-2013, explores the transformations that took place in the territorial distribution of the manufacturing industry -using the number of personnel employed as a variable- and identifies the factors explaining the growth in manufacturing labor demand. The study universe includes cities with 100,000 and more inhabitants in 2010. The information used is drawn from the United Nations, and population and economic censuses. The results show contrasting processes, since Mexico City became de-industrialized, yet there was an increase in geographic concentration in most groups of activity. Furthermore, the factors explaining industrial location were different in the periods of relative growth and stagnation. Lastly, the article proves that no progress has been made in the productive efficiency of urban economies.

Keywords : industrial location; geographic concentration; economic restructuring; trade liberalization.