This book explores developmental policymaking across the multiple levels of Mexico’s contemporary state, arguing that many of the innovations in industrial policy have been driven at the subnational level. In the three decades since Mexico’s neoliberal turn in its political economy, subnational units of government have taken a lead in industrial transformation, galvanising policy from below. With most literature on new developmentalism focusing on the national level, this book is an important exploration of the differentiated and rewarding results that may be found below the state’s centre.

Based on an original dataset of written and oral interviews gained from national and subnational governmental units of industrial policymaking in Mexico, the book shows how attribution and power are diffused across the contemporary state’s multiple levels. Notable subnational projects explored by the book include public-private collaboration, productive investments and an interesting array of incentives targeted towards industrial upgrading and innovation. The book concludes by providing a distinctive and systematic comparison between subnational units from different countries in Latin America and further afield, in order to assess the commonalities of developmental roles and policies.

Industrial Development in Mexico will be an important read for scholars across the fields of political science, political economy and Latin American development.