Resumo

CASTANEDA NAVARRETE, Jennifer. ¿Por qué los hogares son pobres?: Un análisis para la zona metropolitana de Mérida, 2010. Península [online]. 2012, vol.7, n.2, pp.11-26. ISSN 1870-5766.

The urbanization processes experienced in Mexico have shaped not only the cities but also the rural areas, with consequent effects on the population welfare. While poverty is concentrated in higher percentage in rural areas of the country, the largest number of poor live in the cities. In this context, the article analyzes the causes of poverty in the metropolitan area of Mérida (ZMM by its Spanish acronym), noting that even when common features among poor households can be identified in the six municipalities of the ZMM, like a woman household head, low level of education, a household head with more than 60 years or a self-employed household head; it should not be overlooked that the ZMM is a heterogeneous area and each municipality shows particular problems that must be understood and addressed.

Palavras-chave : metropolitan area; urban poverty; squared poverty gap; Tobit model.