Abstract

CASADO IZQUIERDO, José María. The polycentric structure of local labour markets in Mexico City's Metropolitan Area. Invest. Geog [online]. 2012, n.79, pp.97-118. ISSN 2448-7279.

Commuting data at a district level and an algorithm designed to delineate self-contained areas show that Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) was organized in 2007 in twelve local labour market areas. Although six exployment subcenters were identified, the MCMA is still clearly dominated by its Central Business District (CBD), being located the remaining five subcenters close to the CBD. Assessment of this spatial structure is not a positive one: diminishing co-location, decrease in speed and increase in commuting time and distance. Nevertheless, the rising percentage of intra-district commuting is a positive sign, even if this trend is not uniform throughout the metropolitan area.

Keywords : Commuting; local labour market areas; megacities; polycentrism; urban structure.