Brechas estructurales y oportunidades de desarrollo en localidades rurales del sureste mexicano: caso MAP Veracruz

Structural gaps and development opportunities in rural localities of southeastern Mexico: The case of MAP in Veracruz

Abstract

Objective: To identify vertical structural gaps that are occurring in four municipalities belonging to the Microregion of Priority Attention (MAP) Angostillo in the state of Veracruz. Methodology. Using the structural gaps approach proposed by ECLAC, eighteen indicators were integrated to evaluate and compare social, economic and territorial gaps in the study area. Results: The municipality of Puente Nacional has the lowest development in eleven indicators; this municipality should pay special attention to developing urban infrastructure and improving the food conditions of its inhabitants. Paso de Ovejas is the municipality with the best results. Limitations: The study is based almost exclusively on public data from government institutions and does not explore residents' perceptions, cultural dynamics, local governance, or socio- political conflicts that could explain why these inequalities persist. In Mexico, CONEVAL in charge of measuring poverty, establishing the concept of multidimensional poverty; another methodology is the structural gaps approach proposed by ECLAC and takes into account territorial heterogeneity in terms of development. Conclusions: The structural gaps methodology gives us an idea of the approach to be taken by each of the municipalities under study. Management should focus on improving the economic conditions of the rural population, promoting and supporting programs that encourage environmental care and prioritizing territorial planning processes in urban areas.