City-regions and socio-economic segregation in mid-sized cities in Mexico: the cases of Oaxaca and Morelia

Abstract

This article examines sociospatial segregation and poverty in two mid-sized cities in Mexico. Data on population distribution, economic activities and poverty from 1970 to 2015 were analysed, on city and regional scales. The findings show persisting segregation on a regional scale, prioritising city centres while marginalising peripheries. It is highest among economically active, working-age, elderly and poorly educated populations. Growing centralisation was identified in tertiary economic activities and units. This unequal distribution has generated scarcities and exacerbated poverty. The findings from this theoretical-methodological approach show the need to recognise the relationships between the city and the surrounding region.