Resource information
The study aims to contribute towards a
national urban strategy, in an effort to maximize
Mexico's cities competitiveness, and livelihoods, in
the urban economists' terms - to maximize agglomeration
economies, while minimizing congestions costs. The country
is in a good position for this challenge: it has relatively
a mature urban system, implying an overall urban population
growth, and, a reasonably balanced system of cities.
However, key issues affecting the competitiveness, and
livelihood of its cities are identified in three broad
categories: dysfunctional nexus of land management, housing
markets, and urban transport; unsatisfied demand for quality
basic services - water, sanitation, and waste management;
and, the lack of instruments to address the growing
urbanization of poverty. Thus, the study suggests elements
for an urban strategy, by addressing the implementation of
institutional and regulatory reform for improved urban
management; development of urban poverty programs; and
development of joint programs for cities of national
importance. Such suggestions are in line with the programs
developed by the Government, both in the National Program
for Social Development 2001-2006, and in its urban strategy
within the National Program for Urban Development and
Territorial Management, covering the same period. The
strategy sketched in this study, is properly aligned with
the national criteria, namely inclusion, sustainability,
competitiveness, and regional development.
