What are the intrinsic connections between economic complexity and sustainability dimensions? To address this question, we have conducted the first Systematic Mapping Study of the literature related to the economic complexity theory, employing databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Semantic Scholar following the PRISMA statement complemented with a science mapping technique. Our endeavor has culminated in the compilation of 687 documents published between 2006 and 2022. The findings of this systematic review reveal a thematic and semantic network that interconnects economic complexity with the following dimensions of sustainability: (1) Economic, (2) Social and Human, (3) Environmental, (4) Political, and (5) Cultural. The results offer compelling evidence that research into economic complexity is actively striving to promote studies that are pertinent to the challenges articulated by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, we propose five avenues for shaping a future research agenda based on the emerging research trends detected through in-depth analysis. In conclusion, we affirm that economic complexity stands as a robust theory that aids in comprehending the multidimensional challenges arising from the pursuit of sustainable development.

The aim of this paper is to examine the current and potential capability to promote the green economy in Mexico, simultaneously detecting new opportunities for diversification and “green” productive sophistication so that Mexican entities can move toward environmentally friendly ecological products. For this, we adopted a novel methodology to measure the productive capabilities of the green economy in Mexico, thereby discovering the green product space at a subnational scale. Economic complexity methods were used to estimate the Green Complexity Index (GCI) and the Green Complexity Potential (GCP) for 32 Mexican regions considering a time series from 2004 to 2018 and a set of data on international trade in ecological products. The main findings are reflected in a grid of the Green Adjacent Possible (GAP) and a heatmap that shows the “grasslands” (current green products by state). The results are likely to influence industrial policy and state innovation agendas. A limitation of this work is that it is based only on data from the formal, industrial, and regulated economy. The originality lies in the fact that there were no previous studies in the context analyzed, and the fecundity of the research reflects the need to expand the study with a focus on green business models.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es examinar la función de producción de ideas que sirve para medir el grado de impacto que tienen los indicadores macroeconómicos de la capacidad de absorción y el stock de conocimiento sobre los resultados tecnológicos logrados (medidos en patentes solicitadas). Para ello, se desarrolló un modelo econométrico utilizando la técnica de datos de panel con efectos fijos y recopilando los datos de diversas fuentes públicas; se manejó una serie temporal de 17 años (2000-2016) y una serie atemporal que incluye las 32 entidades mexicanas. A partir de la estimación econométrica, se encuentra que la calidad del entorno de las actividades económicas es el principal determinante de la generación de conocimiento tecnológico y que el acervo de recursos humanos tiene una relación positiva pero inelástica con la generación de patentes. El aporte esencial del trabajo radica en proveer evidencia empírica a escala subnacional en relación con la capacidad de absorción, que es proclive a incidir en mejores políticas de ciencia, tecnología e innovación (CTI) para la región.

Diagnóstico de la complejidad económica del estado de Hidalgo: de las capacidades a las oportunidades

This paper develops a strategic framework that integrates the theoretical perspectives of evolutionary economic geography and economic complexity to identify green export opportunities. By combining feasibility factors—such as green specialization, relatedness, and trade inertia—with desirability criteria like income, equity, and low emissions, the framework offers a comprehensive approach to identify green export diversification. The empirical application, focused on the Southern Cone (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay), suggests that economies should prioritize green opportunities aligned with their existing capabilities, gradually expanding into higher-risk, higher-return options. The study provides tailored green export diversification portfolios for each country, identifying key opportunities in renewable energy products for Argentina and Brazil, lithium-related inputs for Chile, biofuels for Paraguay, and green hydrogen for Uruguay. These findings offer valuable insights for the design of public policies aimed at fostering green export diversification.

El objetivo de este trabajo es calcular el Índice de Intensidad de Conocimiento (IC) de los municipios hidalguenses con base en la estructura productiva de los sectores económicos. Para tal propósito, se desarrolló un análisis bajo el método de reflexiones y se recopiló la información de fuentes públicas. Los resultados muestran que el estado de Hidalgo cuenta con diferentes niveles de diversidad y ubicuidad, por lo que se recomienda considerar la geografía de la intensidad de conocimiento en relación con la desigualdad social de los municipios para la formulación de políticas diferenciadas acordes a los distintos contextos locales.