A COMPLEX SYSTEMS THEORY BASED ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANCÚN, MEXICO

Abstract

This paper reports a study of the productive sector of the economy of the municipality of Benito Juarez (Cancún) using García’s (2000) methodology. García proposes applying three different levels of analysis (local, regional/national and international) to each social system studied. The analysis takes into account both the way these systems started and how they have developed to the present day. The data comes mainly from documental sources, including internet.
The model developed was validated through its capacity to explain the current economic situation. It is shown that tourism, the principle economic activity, has evolved to form part of a complex system which works as a whole and reflects changes in the economic subsystem.