Regional and dynamic specialization of beef production in Mexico, 2000-2018

Abstract

Objetive: To determine the growth, specialization, and dynamics of beef carcass production in eight regions of Mexico in the period 2000-2018

Design/methodology/approach: Annual growth rates from 2000 to 2018 were calculated in each of the regions; this information allowed determining the relative and dynamic specialization of beef production through Regional Analysis Techniques, such as the Location Quotient and Differential-Structural Method.

Results: During the period 2000 to 2018, the national production of beef in carcass had various annual growths. Most of the location quotients greater than one were obtained by the Chiapas and Sonora regions; while the Sinaloa and Chihuahua territories obtained the lowest number of location quotients. The results of the Differential-Structural Method showed that Sinaloa was the region with the greatest dynamism, while Veracruz and Sonora remained lagging behind and with little specialization in all sub-periods.

Study limitations/implications: The annual growths differentiated between regions implied intraregional lag and dynamism over time. The change in the productive vocation of some regions implied going from being specialized to non-specialized. The dynamics of the regions was explained by obtaining hypothetical gains, while the lag was related to hypothetical losses of various magnitudes.