Mexico Atlas of Economic Complexity

Large income gaps prevail across regions in Mexico. Nuevo Leon exhibits levels of productivity similar to those of South Korea, while Guerrero and Chiapas experience productivity levels below Honduras. These large disparities reproduce even as we break into smaller geographical units: Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas' capital, has eight times the income of Aldama and Mitontic, its poorest municipalities.

The Mexican Atlas of Economic Complexity is a diagnostic tool that policymakers, firms, and investors can use to visualize economic patterns and geographical distribution of productivity and employment, assess the productive ecosystems of states and municipalities, and identify potential opportunities for diversification of products and industries in each location.

The launch of the Mexican Atlas is the culmination of a research collaboration between Harvard's Growth Lab, Mexico’s Ministry of Finance, and the Center for Research and Teaching of Economics (CIDE).

The website was unveiled at the Global Summit of the Open Government Partnership on Oct. 27-29, 2015 – an event with a focus on the role open government can play in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The tool is powered with data collected by several government agencies and is part of an effort by Mexico’s government to return data collected from citizens and businesses, in a set of intuitive visualizations that have the potential to enhance the decision-making process of federal and regional governments, universities, non-governmental organizations and entrepreneurs.

Exports of Washing machines (HS4 Code 8422) 2014 by Mexican States

Mexico Atlas - Washing Machines Exports

What industries employ the most people in Acapulco De Juárez?

tree map showing industry employment

The Growth Lab will continue working with the Ministry of Finance of Mexico and the Inter-American Development Bank to develop a project that provides inputs for the design of a new development strategy for the state of Chiapas.

The Growth Lab has already produced a global Atlas of Economic Complexity that enables users to visualize a country's total trade, track how these dynamics change over time and explore growth opportunities for 128 countries. Additional subnational projects are underway in Colombia and Peru.

Mexico Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (Secretaria de Hacienda y Credito Publico)
The mission of Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público is to propose, direct and control the federal government’s economic policies on finances, taxes, budget, income, public debt, statistics, and geography and information, in order to consolidate a country with a qualitative, fair, inclusive and sustainable economic growth that can strengthen all Mexicans’ well-being.

Center for Research and Teaching of Economics
CIDE is a research and graduate education center specialized in social sciences, oriented by international quality standards and financed by the government of Mexico. CIDE's central goal is to contribute to the development of Mexico, generating knowledge and research by applying rigorous standards and cutting edge techniques. CIDE is also committed to educating a new generation of leaders, capable of performing within public office with a great deal of wisdom, creativity and responsibility, within the context of an open and highly competitive world economy.