Resumo

RAMIREZ GOMEZ, Jesús Francisco. Institutional weaknesses as a factor of low urban competitiveness in Mexico. Telos [online]. 2025, vol.27, n.3, pp.917-932.  Epub 15-Jan-2026. ISSN 2343-5763.  https://doi.org/10.36390/telos273.12.

Paradoxically, in a globalized world, cities have become important engines of development. Urban competitiveness translates into social well-being for their inhabitants. However, in México, cities face limitations in their ability to play a more active role in development processes. This research aims to examine how the process of municipal decentralization initiated in México has impacted the urban competitiveness of its cities. The methodology used is qualitative, descriptive documentary work. The data collection technique is purely documentary. The literature on decentralization policy in México was reviewed, as well as the urban competitiveness indices (UCI) of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) from 2020 to 2024. The results indicate that most cities in México do not have high levels of competitiveness. It is concluded that the country's most populated cities tend to be the most competitive, with the exception of some tourist-focused cities. However, all suffer the consequences of an unfinished decentralization process, which has not provided cities with sufficient institutional capacities to attract and retain sufficient talent and the necessary investment, especially in cities with fewer than one million inhabitants. Less than 20% of cities in México have high levels of competitiveness.

Palavras-chave : Institutions; cities; municipal decentralization; urban competitiveness; regional development.

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