ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses work reported by us in Mexico Megacity (1997) and The Mexico Handbook (1994). It focuses on the extensive privatization of the Mexican corporate world in some detail since it has influenced the 500. The chapter illustrates the concentration of economic activities by state, within state, and within cities. Data utilized in examining the Mexican 500 are from a variety of sources, including Mexico's commercial, economic, population and housing censuses for a variety of years, and from publications by Mexican banks. The chapter explores the location of the Mexican 500 in 1986 and 1997 by state, within states, and in Mexico City. One of the major changes in the Mexican economy over the past decade has been an emphasis on privatization. The major change noted is that Mexican capital origin increased from 62.5 percent in 1986 to 74 percent in 1997.
