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Is Mexico City Polycentric? A Trip Attraction Capacity Approach

Manuel Suárez is in the Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, México, msuarez{at}igg.unam.mx

Javier Delgado

Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, México, jdelgado{at}igg.unam.mx

The article explores whether Mexico City is a polycentric metropolis. Building upon previous methodologies, an alternative criterion is proposed for identifying employment centres, using a jobs to working residents ratio, while taking into account economic informality. Although a small set of minor sub-centres is traced, it is found that most jobs are concentrated in a large central agglomeration, with a moderate percentage of jobs concentrated in corridor-like shapes. Within this central agglomeration, are found inner nodes and corridor-like structures that had been identified in previous research as sub-centres. Additionally, economic specialisation is identified with the use of location quotients and the results are compared with those of previous methodologies. It is concluded that Mexico City has a hybrid, although still predominantly monocentric, urban form.

Urban Studies, Vol. 46, No. 10, 2187-2211 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0042098009339429


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