Gustavo Garza

Global economy, metropolitan dynamics and urban policies in Mexico

Abstract This paper throws some light on the complex links between economic growth and the process of urbanization in Mexico in the 1960–1995 period, as well as on the changes in urban and regional policies. In order to clarify this historical relationship, the analysis focuses on the evolution of the Mexican system of cities according to their size, and it is divided into three subperiods: (i) the 1960–1980 decades, characterized by a swift economic growth; (ii) the 1980–1990 lost decade of a deep economic crisis; (iii) the partial economic recovery of 1990–1995. It is concluded that in the last stage, when the neoliberal or structural adjustment model consolidated, the urban system clearly moved towards a polycentric concentration in a very few metropolises, standing out the emerging megalopolitan cluster of Mexico City. Furthermore, it is argued that the abdication of the Federal Government to plan the system of cities will intensify the concentration process and the problematique of urban Mexico.

Social and economic imbalances in the metropolitan area of Monterrey

The paper describes social and economic differences between Monterrey’s eight municipalities, including housing conditions and basic service provision, and how these changed between 1970 and 1990. It also describes the social and economic differences for 1990 between the 710 micro-areas into which Monterrey was divided, which allows a more precise and detailed picture of intra-urban inequalities. It also reveals the limitations of an intra-urban analysis based on municipal boundaries by showing many clusters of micro-areas with very low levels of socio-economic development in some of the better off municipalities.

Uncontrolled air pollution in Mexico City

Abstract This document analyzes the environmental problems and the information available on air pollution levels in Mexico City, their sources, their impact on the health of the population and the policies aimed at reducing them. The author warns that ecological deterioration will occur in the valleys adjacent to the Valley of Mexico, just as it has there, unless strict policies are established to prevent it. The analysis begins in 1986, when pollution levels began to be measured systematically, and ends in 1994, although some forecasts concerning urban expansion up to the year 2010 are presented.

Concentración financiera en la Ciudad de México (1960-2001)

The paper analyses the Mexican banking system during 1960-2001, focusing on the financial concentration at the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico City and other wo...

Servicios generales de la producción en la Ciudad de México / General Production Services in Mexico City

espanolEl proposito de este articulo es analizar la evolucion de la concentracion de los servicios publicos en la Zona Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico (ZMCM) segun dos etapas: i) entre 1960 y 1982, periodo de activa participacion gubernamental; y, ii) de 1980 a 1998, de adelgazamiento gubernamental e implantacion del neoliberalismo.Las conclusiones de corte estructural del analisis realizado son tres: i) la creciente concentracion de los servicios publicos en la ZMCM entre 1960 y 1982 refuerza la tendencia hacia su especializacion terciaria; ii) la concentracion en la urbe de trabajadores en actividades de los servicios generales de la produccion (sgp) se reduce ligeramente de 1993 a 1998; iii) existe una concentracion en la Ciudad de Mexico semejante en los sgp que en las actividades de comercio y servicios de tipo mercantil. EnglishAbstractThis article seeks to analyze two stages in the evolution of the concentration of public services in the Mexico City Metropolitan Zone (MCMZ): i) from 1960 to 1982, the period of active government participation and ii) from 1980 to 1998, an era of government reduction and the implementation of neo-liberalism.The article provides three structural conclusions of the analysis undertaken: i) the growing concentration of public services in the MCMZ between 1960 and 1982 reinforce the trend towards its tertiary specialization; ii) the concentration of workers in the city in activities involving general production services (GPS) fell slightly between 1993 and 1998 and iii) there is a similar concentration of GPS in Mexico City to that of commercial and mercantile services.