Efectos recientes de la actividad exportadora sobre la reestructuración económica urbana en Chile

Abstract

Natural-resource based exports are one of the main engines of the Chilean economy and they have experienced a boom that has had different impacts in various regions of the country, changing the spatial and productive characteristics of cities. From an economic geography perspective is of interest how this boom changes local employment, with focus on analyzing the possible impact of the Dutch disease on an urban scale. The quantitative analysis is based on recent dependent employment data, categorized by economic activity at the local level (comunas or municipalities) as well as current tendencies (2005-2012) in five selected cities. Data partially support the expected effects -an increase in employment and a decrease in agriculture-, but their causes must be analyzed spatially. We conclude that the utility of these concepts, designed for national-scale macroeconomic analyses, at a smaller geographical scale should be discussed, in order to more accurately identify the spatially distinct challenges and threats that arise from a economically successful activity