Polarised Growth within a Multi-Growth-Centre Environment: A Case Study of the United States 1920–1970

Abstract

The existence of polarised growth is an indication that growth centres do in fact exist. This paper describes a method to test for polarised growth within a multi-growth-centre environment. Application of the method in the United States shows that there are centres around which growth is polarised. However, this polarisation is not as straightforward as expected and it is shown that the type of polarisation can vary with time and with the size of centres to which growth is diffused. For example, in recent decades small centres were positively polarised around growth centres whereas large centres were negatively polarised. The latter result is an indication that the use of growth centres may not always be a good regional planning tool. By analysis of the polarisation of growth rates in a system of centres, information is also given on the mechanism of growth diffusion.