locupación

Locupación is a term used in human geography and labor studies to describe the dynamic relationship between location and occupation. It refers to how geographic space conditions employment opportunities and, in turn, how occupational patterns influence the use and organization of space.

Etymology: Locupación is a portmanteau of localización (location) and ocupación (occupation), coined in the mid-2010s by urban scholars to capture a two-way process not fully covered by existing terms.

Core ideas: Locupación emphasizes spatial concentration of jobs, accessibility to employment, and the feedback loop between where people live and what work is available. It covers physical workplaces and digitally mediated occupations, noting that remote and flexible work can relocate activity without moving residents. It also highlights policy levers such as transportation, housing, and digital infrastructure.

Applications: Researchers use locupación to analyze regional disparities, plan balanced growth, and enhance resilience to shocks. It informs debates on suburbanization, urban cores, and the locational advantages of clusters like technology, manufacturing, and care services.

Criticism: Some scholars argue the term is broad and difficult to operationalize empirically. Others warn against determinism if locupación is treated as inevitable rather than contingent on policy and culture.

See also: agglomeration, localization, labor geography, spatial mismatch.