Detection of Key Sectors by Using a Social Accounting Matrices: an Alternative Approach

Abstract

This paper provides a new methodology for the detection of productive key sectors within a national (or regional) economy. In contrast with other methods applied so far, this one presents two innovations. Firstly, the so-called traditional models, which are based on building normalised backward and forward linkage indicators, are combined with more modern extraction models. Secondly, Social Accounting Matrices (SAM) are the databases used instead of Input-Output Tables (IOT), in order to determine those indicators. This paper attempts to show the advantages of this system by empirically applying it to the SAM for Spain in the year 2000, in order to detect the key sectors in Spanish economy.