ABSTRACT
This chapter considers sectoral and spatial evolutionary change in various manufacturing industries that have experienced significant growth in the United States (US) and Mexican border areas. The spatial performance of the various industries in two major geographical/territorial areas is considered: the established US industrial heartland and the US-Mexico border region. The chapter examines the existence of an evolutionary process of manufacturing locational change. Industries are assumed to shift their location to more labor-abundant and wage-competitive regions as their manufacturing processes mature. Various evolutionary phases may be distinguished in the development of any given manufacturing activity. The analysis of the manufacturing data utilized shows that, for the majority of selected industries and indexes surveyed, their performances conform, within general parameters, to the evolutionary expectations of the study. The unavailability of data on Mexican border industries and of sufficient and compatible US manufacturing census year data has been a major obstacle to research in this area.
