Abstract

LOPEZ-GARCIA, David  and  GOMEZ-ALVAREZ, David. Urban structure of Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, 1999-2019: An analysis of employment subcenters. Estud. demogr. urbanos [online]. 2022, vol.37, n.2, pp.427-481.  Epub June 27, 2022. ISSN 2448-6515.  https://doi.org/10.24201/edu.v37i2.2053.

This study explores the evolution of Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA) urban structure between 1999 and 2019. By conducting an analysis of density and total employment at the census tract level, the study identifies nine subcenters of employment in 1999 and 14 in 2019, and their size, spatial structure, and economic specialization is analyzed. A primacy index shows that the GMA is transitioning towards a monocentric urban form. Although the GMA is achieving to create new employment subcenters, these clusters in urban space to form what can be called “the great central agglomeration of the GMA”. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of the study for employment accessibility in GMA.

Keywords : urban structure; urban form; employment subcenters; accessibility; monocentric; polycentric; Guadalajara.