Multiscale mobility: How the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped Mexico’s intermunicipal connectivity

Issa Moussa Diop, Erika Cruz-Bonilla, Christian Wolff, Hocine Cherifi and Maribel Hernández-Rosales

PLOS Complex Systems, 2026, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-25

Abstract: Mobility networks are vital for economic activity, social interaction, and urban development, yet they remain highly vulnerable to external shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted human mobility, but most studies have focused on short-term responses or macroscopic patterns, leaving long-term structural transformations underexplored. Here, we analyze Mexico’s intermunicipal mobility network from 2020 to 2021 using a mesoscopic decomposition framework that distinguishes local (short-distance) components from global (long-distance) connections. This multiscale approach moves beyond static or node-level metrics to reveal how connectivity itself was reshaped. Clustering analysis and change point detection further uncover temporal shifts in mobility dynamics. Our results show three clear phases. Before the pandemic, the network was dense and highly connected. During the pandemic, mobility fragmented into smaller, locally cohesive clusters, reflecting sharp declines in long-distance travel. After restrictions eased, mobility partially recovered but never fully returned to its pre-pandemic structure, indicating lasting behavioral and structural shifts. Regional disparities were pronounced: western and northwestern regions showed greater resilience, while southeastern regions remained fragmented longer. Broader lifestyle changes—including remote work, digitalization, and e-commerce—reinforced local clustering and weakened interregional ties, pointing to a durable reconfiguration of mobility networks. By integrating a temporal, multiscale perspective, this study reveals how crises reshape both local cohesion and interregional connectivity. Beyond documenting disruption, it shows that mobility systems do not simply “bounce back.” Instead, they reorganize, often unevenly, underscoring the urgency for adaptive transport policies, resilient urban planning, and digital infrastructure capable of supporting mobility in a permanently altered landscape. These insights provide a data-driven foundation for future mobility resilience strategies.Author summary: Human mobility shapes economic activity, transportation systems, and social interactions. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted mobility patterns worldwide, modifying movement within and between regions. This study analyzes the impact of the pandemic on Mexico’s intermunicipal mobility network by examining connectivity changes at local, regional, and national scales. Mobility data from 2020 and 2021 capture key phases of disruption, adaptation, and partial recovery. The results highlight the long-term structural impacts of the crisis on mobility dynamics.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pcsy00:0000086

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcsy.0000086

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