The mining industry in Mexico: Performance patterns and determinants of efficiency

The purpose of this paper is to quantify and analyze the technical efficiency levels in Mexico's non-oil mining industry. We use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a panel data econometric model in order to explore the determinants of mining efficiency, considering the Regional Economic Theory approach. The results show the consistency between the patterns of localization, specialization and productive infrastructure as explanatory factors of efficiency. These constitute a reference point to explain the specific factors to improve in order to raise the efficiency levels in the use of the different minerals studied.