Social vulnerability as an approach for designing territorial public policies for sustainability in Mexico

Abstract

In recent years, the macroeconomic context has revealed significant shortcomings in the administrative procedures of governmental institutions at the regional level. These deficiencies have translated into inefficient public policy responses to key sustainability challenges, particularly in the areas of employment, poverty, marginalization, and vulnerability. This article aims to examine socio-territorial disparities through the analytical framework of social vulnerability. This approach underscores the urgent need to develop an index capable of generating reliable and differentiated results to inform sustainable public policy design. Such policies should promote articulation and coherence among diverse social stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of closing subnational social gaps and strengthening the endogenous development capacities of territories. The main objective of this study is to estimate a Territorial Social Vulnerability Index. To this end, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is applied, integrating sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and habitat-related variables specific to each territorial unit. The findings allow for the identification of key factors that contribute to social disadvantage among the Mexican population. These results are intended to support the formulation of comprehensive territorial policies aimed at fostering social development and reducing inequalities across the country.