Spatial Dynamics of Popular and Solidarity Economy Organizations.

Abstract

In this research, an exploratory study was carried out on the geographical distribution of Popular and Solidarity Economy (EPS) organizations in cantons of Ecuador. To calculate the spatial autocorrelation of the relative change in the number of organizations between 2010 and 2022 using the Moran Index and a local indicator (LISA), data from 221 cantons were analyzed, with the aim of identifying geographic clustering patterns; Spatial weights were defined using the queen’s contiguity criterion. The Moran Index resulted in a value of 0.1423 (sd=3.4789, p - value 0.0002), indicating a significant positive spatial autocorrelation, revealing that cantons with similar variations in the number of organizations tend to cluster geographically, specifically in the eastern cantons that presented high levels of autocorrelation. The implications of these findings are significant, concluding that the expansion of EPS organizations can contribute to greater territorial equity and sustainable development, offering promising perspectives for future research and public policies.