The creative economy and its linkages in the metropolitan areas of Mexico

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the linkages of the creative and cultural industries (CCIs) in the metropolitan areas of Mexico and identifies two regionally differentiated ‘locational-pull factors’: the city’s industrial base and amenities. These factors have been reinforced by the deconcentration of the Mexican urban system. The industrial base locational-pull factors plays an important role in cities involved in international trade with the United States/Canada, while the pull of amenities drives a different path associated with tourist and cultural enclaves. In Mexico, software and creative services (such as advertising) exhibit strong linkages within creative sectors and with other non-creative industries.