Changing Clusters of U.S. Industries: 1979 to 1986

Abstract

This research utilizes factor analysis of County Business Patterns data for 1979 and 1986 to identify changes in the spatial structure of major industries in the United States and relates these changes to relevant theories of industrial location. The basic hypothesis of the research is that the 1981- 82 recession, coupled with technological changes and changes in government policy, led to rather remarkable changes in the spatial structure of many industries in the United States over a very short penod of time The research results confirmed these changes. In addition, many of the changes in locational relationships between industries are consistent with central place theory while others are consistent with profit cycle theory Both government action and technological developments caused the disintegration of some agglomerations and the emergence of others.