Spatial aspects of Development Yr13 ‘Core and Periphery’

Myrdal’s ‘Core-Periphery’ model

The Core… The CORE of a region is… “…the central part of a region where most of the economic development takes place. These areas have a high concentration of population, wealth and resources. The core continues to develop by a process of CUMULATIVE CAUSATION.”

… and the Periphery The PERIPHERY of an region is… “…the sparsely populated areas which are less developed than the core. They tend to lack both wealth and resources, or their resources are ‘drained’ by the core. This is known as the BACKWASH EFFECT.”

Examples of ‘Core-Periphery’ GLOBAL scale: North-South divide On a world scale, MEDCs (rich North) constitute the global core, whereas the LEDCs make up the periphery CONTINENTAL scale: Western Europe Western Europe is more attractive to industries because it’s near to a large wealthy market; has skilled labour available; has high-quality infrastructure; has R&D facilities NATIONAL scale: Brazil The South-East region boasts the country’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of industries (economic core) and the capital city (administrative / political core)

Friedmann’s ‘Core-Periphery’ model Country begins with a number of relatively independent local centres, each of which serves a small region. A single strong core develops during the initial phase of industrialisation. Cumulative Causation ensures the core develops as more labour / capital migrates from the periphery. The core-periphery structure becomes transformed into a multi-nuclear structure with the national core and a number of sub-cores. A functional interdependent system of cities develops, resulting in national integration and maximum growth potential.

‘Cumulative Causation’ model

Core-periphery model Economic growth and development are never even. Takes into account regional variations within countries (local or current conditions). Core – most prosperous and developed part of a country, or region. Periphery – Levels of wealth, development and standards of living decrease with distance from the core.