Municipal Integration with the Polos de Desarrollo

The Polos de Desarrollo de Bienestar is an economic development program recently established by the Mexican federal government to attract business development in industries key to the Plan México through the use of targeted tax deductions. Each Polo is a tract of land selected by various subnational and federal entities, including the Secretaría de Economía and the Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano (SEDATU). These entities, in partnership with the World Bank, have identified the current lack of formal municipal involvement as a key barrier to successful implementation of the program.
In partnership with these agencies, the NYU capstone team has carried out literature reviews, a case study, an analysis of the policy itself, and fieldwork in Mexico to identify pathways for more effective municipal integration with the Polos de Desarrollo. Final recommendations include a governance framework, financing methods, and a set of KPIs through which to monitor essential goals of the program at all scales.