Abstract

MINIAN, Isaac; MARTINEZ, Ángel  and  IBANEZ, Jenny. Technological Change and the Relocation of the Apparel Industry. Prob. Des [online]. 2017, vol.48, n.188, pp.139-164. ISSN 0301-7036.

New technologies are transforming the production process, but they have yet to penetrate clothing manufacturing and, therefore, have not played a role in the relocation of the industry. This paper aims to determine whether new production technologies have played a main role in the location of this industry, as they have in other industries. To do so, we distinguish between communication and transportation technologies and new technologies. The former have allowed manufacturers to relocate production phases into different countries; here, wage costs have played a decisive role. Wage differences account for four out of the five moves made in the industry. The other relocations can be explained by quotas and trade agreements, with a considerable impact on the Mexican export cycle.

Keywords : Technological change; apparel industry; new technologies; competitiveness; industrial migration; relocation.

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