| Sumario: | This article analyzes the planning of major investment schemes in Mexico. First it provides a brief description of the concept of major investment schemes, stressing the importance they had during the 1970s and early 1980s. At present, these schemes have been set aside due to the crisis the country is experiencing, but some of them have already reached a stage in which their basic economic activities have been consolidated or are undergoing a process of reconversion. After pointing out the deficiencies of the planning process on a national plane (which has a clear impact upon the approaches followed in the major investment schemes under review), the author shows that both the individualistic-oriented type of planning conducted in private enterprise and the snag-ridden sectoral and inter- sectoral type of planning carried out by the government, have been major obstacles to the success of such shemes.Moreover, upon evaluating the geographical aspects of major investment schemes, the author states that these schemes have been developed without a clear vision of the region and, therefore, with little or no regard for regional planning. Similary, he states that urban development and planning have suffered from serious shortcomings, and for that reason the needs generated by intensive urban population growth have not been properly met. Lastly, he stresses that planning is very closely related to the power structure, and that when studying it, one can not fail to take that factor into account.
|
|---|
