Key sectors. A new proposal from the Network Theory

Abstract

There is a long tradition of studies in the input-output field for determining key sectors Their analysis allows the identification of those sectors with great effect on the demand and supply system and therefore, they constitute the basis for the growth and development of a territory. In order to pinpoint, those sectors whose position is more relevant in the economy, we propose from the network theory a definition of centrality measures that we consider to be new in the input-output field. The definition is based on the consideration of three complementary characteristics: total effects, mediative effects and immediate effects. These measures we call multilevel indicators and they have the enormous advantage of allowing different-sized structures to be compared and the key sector concept to be approached from a relational and global viewpoint.