Regional Disparities in Industrial Development: Evidence from Districts of Punjab

Abstract

The economic development of any region can be achieved by improving the factors of the industrial sector. Inter-district industrial sector development disparity of the state is the major obstacle in the process of balanced economic development. In this backdrop, the present study was undertaken to examine the relative performance of 22 districts of the state of Punjab in terms of industrial development at different points of time (1991, 2001, and 2017). Using Wroclow Taxonomic Method, a district-level industrial sector development index (ISDI) was constructed with the help of 9 indicators of the industrial sector to identify the development of the districts. The results confirmed that there were considerable disparities in industrial development in Punjab. The districts near to the Grant Trunk road were more industrially developed due to location advantages as compared to other districts of the state. The district Ludhiana was the best district among all districts in terms of industrial progress. S.A.S Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Patiala were labelled as improving districts, whereas the districts Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, Muktsar, Moga, Mansa and Faridkot identified as industrially backward districts.