Productive structure, specialization, and municipal functional hierarchy in Veracruz: application of the MLQ

Authors

Keywords:

Municipal economic specialization, modified location quotient, core-periphery, productive diversification, Veracruz

Abstract

This study analyzes the economic specialization and productive structure of the 212 municipalities in Veracruz in 2023 using a Modified Location Quotient (MLQ) based on the number of employed persons by SCIAN industry. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional aproach was employed using data from INEGI’s 2024 Economic Censuses. The MLQ corrected the asymmetries and scale effects of the traditional indicator, improving comparability among municipalities. The results revealed an asymmetric distribution: only four municipalities recorded more than 50 sectors with an MLQ > 0, while the majority had medium or low productive bases, and eight municipalities lacked specialization. Diversified municipalities integrated advanced urban services, logistics, and manufacturing; in contrast, the rest of the territory focused on commerce and services. It is concluded that specialization in Veracruz is fragmented, requiring differentiated policies.

Author Biography

Ángel Toledo-T., Universidad Veracruzana

Licenciado en Economía (Universidad Cristóbal Colón), maestro en Estudios Urbanos (El Colegio de México) y doctor en Estudios del Desarrollo (Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas). Profesor por asignatura en la Facultad de Economía de la Universidad Veracruzana (UV). Miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadoras e Investigadores (SNII), nivel candidato.

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Published

2026-08-28

How to Cite

Toledo-T., Ángel. (2026). Productive structure, specialization, and municipal functional hierarchy in Veracruz: application of the MLQ. Universita Ciencia, 14(40), 300–318. Retrieved from https://universita.ux.edu.mx/universita-ciencia/article/view/1443

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 40 (2026): Transparencia y protección de datos personales

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Artículos

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