OECD Territorial Reviews: Puebla-Tlaxcala, Mexico 2013
Encompassing 39 municipalities in two states, Puebla-Tlaxcala is the fourth-largest
metropolitan zone in Mexico. Over the past five decades, the region has successfully
attracted major national and international firms, building its reputation as both
a manufacturing hub specialising in auto production and one of Mexico’s most important
centres of higher education. Yet it also faces important challenges. Compared to other
large Mexican metropolitan zones, Puebla-Tlaxcala has a disproportionate share of
individuals with low skills, which could represent a bottleneck to future growth.
Urban sprawl is another challenge with important economic, environmental and social
consequences. Puebla-Tlaxcala's urban footprint expanded nearly eight times faster
than its population over the past three decades, contributing to inadequate service
provision and high levels of social marginalisation, particularly in the metropolitan
periphery. To ensure that the region remains competitive and grows sustainably over
the long term, this review recommends (i) improving workforce and economic development
outcomes, particularly by raising the level of low-skilled workers; (ii) guiding urban
growth more effectively to tackle urban sprawl and improve serve delivery; (iii) and
addressing governance challenges by building capacity in the public sector and transitioning
to forms of metropolitan governance.
Published on October 21, 2013Also available in: Spanish
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