Location Matters: Comparing the Distribution of Economic Activity in the Canadian and Mexican Urban Systems

Abstract

In this article, the authors compare location patterns for sixteen industrial classes (goods and services) in Canada and Mexico at two points in time. They argue that the classical tenets of location theory apply equally to nations at different stages of development. The spatial distribution of activity (measured by employment) is examined with reference to distance and to city size in both nations. They conclude that economic activity in Canada and Mexico, both in the manufacturing and the service sectors, by and large exhibits similar spatial distributions. In both nations, urban industrial specialization varies systematically with city size and distance. Where major differences existed, they could often be explained by differences in geography and levels of development and by the spatial interference of the U.S. border.

Is Distance Really Dead? Comparing Industrial Location Patterns over Time in Canada

“…As Henderson (1997) noted, the existence of small and medium cities is in part explained by wage-sensitive and space-extensive industries that seek out labor sheds (and urban land markets) that are beyond the influence of large metropolitan areas but are nonetheless close enough to permit rapid access to their business services. Our results for Mexico and Canada reinforce this analysis (Polèse and Champagne 1999).…”

“…The model (methodology) presented here follows from Coffey and Polèse (1988), Coffey and Shearmur (1996), and Polèse and Champagne (1999). In previous work, we have often used the term "location," a no less elusive concept than "distance."…”

Distributions of city sizes in Mexico during the 20th century

“…6, this notorious deviation is a contribution of the northern cities located near the border with USA [45]. Much of this phenomenon has to do with the great economic ''gradient'' exercised by a strong economy on a weak one, which is the case in the USA-Mexico interaction.…”

Alcance y límites de la desindustrialización metropolitana: el caso de Zaragoza (España)

“…El ya citado de Polèse y Shearmour (2004) y otros del mismo equipo (Polèse y Champagne, 1999;Polèse et al, 2005) se centran en observar la influencia de dos factores destacados por su potencial explicativo: las economías de aglomeración y los costes de interacción espacial. En relación con el primero sostienen como hipótesis que «la decisión de localizarse (dentro, cerca o lejos de una gran metrópoli) dependerá en gran parte de la importancia relativa para la empresa de las economías de aglomeración y los costes laborales y de suelo» (Polèse y Shearmour, 2004: 435).…”