Regional economic development and maquiladora production: An integrated model of Yucatan's space-economy (Mexico).

摘要

Maquiladoras are export-oriented assembly plants based on the labor-intensive manufacture of imported components. Traditionally, these firms have located along the U.S.-Mexico border. However, during the past decade maquiladora production has spread to other regions of Mexico. Perhaps the most dramatic shift in the location of these export-oriented industries has been experienced by the state of Yucatán. A decade ago, maquiladora production in Yucatán was insignificant; by early 2001, however, more than 145 export-oriented firms, employing more than 37,000 persons, generated more than {dollar}6 billion (US) in output. The majority of these firms produce clothing and apparel, primarily for the U.S. market.; The proliferation of maquiladora production in Yucatán is the consequence of profound changes in the global economy, as well as a series of national and regional economic development strategies implemented since the mid-1980s. In general, recent policy initiatives have identified maquiladoras as a “key” sector in redressing geographic disparities in economic development and bringing about a more equitable spatial distribution of economic opportunity in Yucatán.; Given the tremendous locational changes in maquiladora production during the past decade and the prevailing lack of integration of export-oriented industries with Mexico's economy, this dissertation provides a critical appraisal of export-oriented industrialization as a regional development strategy in the case of Yucatán, Mexico. An integrated input-output/spatial econometric model is developed and implemented in order to carry out policy analysis at different spatial scales. The model is a fully operational planning tool that may be employed for economic impact assessment and simulation in the case of Yucatán. Furthermore, the methodology upon which the model is based may be utilized to develop similar models for other locations.; In general, the input-output component of the model reveals that maquiladora production has had a positive impact on economic growth in both urban and rural regions of Yucatán. Furthermore, the EOI strategy has brought about a moderate redistribution of income at the regional scale (urban/rural) during the past decade. Spatial econometric analysis indicates that maquiladora production at the municipio scale creates additional employment not only locally, but among other locations throughout Yucatán. The propensity to generate “spillover” employment in other municipios is a function of both geographic distance and economic importance.; Notwithstanding the positive impacts of maquiladora production, the EOI strategy has not induced a more geographically-balanced distribution of economic development in Yucatán. The benefits of export-oriented industrialization have been highly concentrated at the local scale and employment creation effects are particularly weak among the highly impoverished and economically marginal municipios in the southernmost part of state.