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Using an adaptation of the traditional Gini index in spatial autocorrelation models and the analysis of thematic cartography, this article aims to show that there is uncertainty about the spatial patterns found in the outsourcing process of Latin American cities, understanding that certain economic activities in this sector break with the typical center-periphery layouts and take advantage of territorial capacities to establish autonomous production environments. When analyzing different Advanced Producer Services sectors in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, in Mexico, it was seen that there is a reduced presence of medium to largesized businesses, which leads to the limited construction of production agglomerations outside the main city center. However, a relational analysis of the space leads one to consider that apart from showing a predilection for the urban west, there are services that in their strategic role could provide the basis for the future development of clusters in this city [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practices of street-level bureaucracy (SLB) constitute a central issue to efforts made to understand the implementation of public policies. Lipsky's seminal work established the theoretical bases for a methodical analysis of this type of practice. Nevertheless, the appropriation of Lipsky, at least in the Latin American context, is limited to partial references and lacks a rigorous empirical examination of the theory. Our analysis of the Structural Programme for Risk Areas, based on both primary data (ethnographic participation, interviews, focus groups) and secondary data (official texts), identified practices and contexts not foreseen by the theory. Contrary to the theoretical postulates, it was found that the behavioural hypotheses of rationalisation of service and cognitive simplification are not good predictors of the relationships of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) with their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]