| In the section | Surveys |
| Title of the article | Core-Periphery and Peripherality in Regional Science |
| Pages | 144-162 |
| Author | Larisa Victorovna Melnikova Candidate of Sciences (Economics), Associate Professor, Leading Researcher Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering SB RAS 17 Akademik Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ORCID: 0000-0001-7427-7289 |
| Abstract | The article presents an analytical review of the development of the core-periphery and peripherality concepts in economic theory. The stages of formation of the core-periphery approach are marked by the contributions of the school of Latin American structuralism, theories of polarized development, dependency theory and world-system theory associated with the names of R. Prebisch, J. Friedmann, F. Perroux, S. Furtado, I. Wallerstein. The core-periphery concept has proved to be a useful analytical tool in studies of international trade and economic growth in the world economy. At the same time, uneven structures of distribution of economic activity in space, similar to the core-periphery structure, appear in many models of regional economy, starting with the model of agricultural production location by I. Thunen and ending with the core-periphery model by P. Krugman. These structures emerge without the help of the core-periphery concept, but as a result of the interaction of two fundamental factors – transport costs and economies of scale – and represent various combinations of dispersion and agglomeration. With regional inequality growing worldwide, the combination of the core-periphery approach and basic concepts of regional economics allows us to analyze the complex mechanisms of spatial polarization of economic space. Over time, the periphery has gone beyond the core-periphery dichotomy and developed into an independent category defined, defined by a combination of low accessibility of large markets, low population density and remoteness from decision-making centers. The concept of peripherality allows us to understand the processes of peripheralisation of previously prosperous territories through the interaction of power asymmetry and agglomeration effects |
| Code | 330.8 |
| JEL | A10, B41, R10 |
| DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2024.1.144-162 |
| Keywords | core, center, periphery, concept, agglomeration, dispersion, spatial structure, economic activity, regional inequality, model |
| Download | |
| For citation | Melnikova L.V. Core-Periphery and Peripherality in Regional Science. Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika = Spatial Economics, 2024, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 144–162. https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2024.1.144-162 (In Russian) |
| References | 1. Alonso W. Location and Land Use. Toward a General Theory of Land Rent. Cambridge: Harward University Press, 1964, 205 p. 2. Arctic Exploration 2.0: Continuation of the Traditions of Soviet Research. Edited by A.N. Pilyasov. Moscow, 2022, 432 p. (In Russian). 3. Borgatti S.P., Everett M.G. Models of Сore / Periphery Structures. Social Networks, 2000, vol. 21, issue 4, pp. 375–395. 4. Boschma R.A. Proximity and Innovation: A Critical Assessment. Regional Studies, 2005, vol. 39, issue 1, pp. 61–74. 5. Carlberg M. A Neoclassical Model of Interregional Economic Growth. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 1981, vol. 11, issue 2, pp. 191–203. 6. Christaller W. Central Places in Southern Germany. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1966, 230 p. 7. Copus A.C. From Core-Periphery to Polycentric Development: Concepts of Spatial and Aspatial Peripherality. European Planning Studies, 2001, vol. 9, issue 4, pp. 539–552. 8. Davies S., Michie R. Peripheral Regions – A Marginal Concern? EoRPA. Paper 11/6, 2011, 77 p. Available at: (accessed January 2024). 9. Dijkstra L., Polman H., Rodriguez-Pose. The Geography of EU Discontent. Regional Studies, 2020, vol. 54, issue 6, pp. 737–754. 10. Eder J., Trippl M. Innovation in the Periphery: Compensation and Exploitation Strategies. Growth and Change, 2019, vol. 50, issue 4, pp. 1511–1531. 11. Ehrlich M., Overman H.G. Place-Based Policies and Spatial Disparities across European Cities. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2020, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 128–149. 12. Friedmann J. A Theory of Polarized Development. Urbanization, Planning, and National Development. Edited by J. Friedmann. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1973, pp. 41–67. 13. Friedmann J. Regional Development Policy: A Case Study of Venezuela. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1966, 279 p. 14. Fujita M., Thisse J.F. Economics of Agglomeration. Cities, Industrial Location, and Regional Growth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, 466 p. 15. Furtado C. Development and Stagnation in Latin America: A Structuralist Approach. Studies in Comparative International Development, 1965, vol. 1, pp. 159–175. 16. Hansen N. Poles of Development. The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Edited by M. Vernengo, E.P. Caldentey, B.J. Rosser Jr. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 17. Heijman W.J.M., Schipper R.A. Space and Economics: An Introduction to Regional Economics. Mansholt Publication Series Vol. 7. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2010, 272 p. 18. Hotelling H. Stability in Competition. The Economic Journal, 1929, vol. 39, no. 153, pp. 41–57. 19. Krugman P. Geography and Trade. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1991, 156 p. 20. Kuhn M. Peripheralization: Theoretical Concepts Explaining Socio-Spatial Inequalities. European Planning Studies, 2015, vol. 23, issue 2, pp. 367–368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.862518 21. Losch А. The Spatial Order of the Economy. Moscow, 1959, 455 p. (In Russian). 22. Mielants E. Periphery. The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Edited by M. Vernengo, E.P. Caldentey, B.J. Rosser Jr. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 23. OECD Regional Outlook 2023: The Longstanding Geography of Inequalities. OECD. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2023, 154 p. 24. Oppido S., Ragozino S., Esposito De Vita G. Peripheral, Marginal, or Non-Core Areas? Setting the Context to Deal with Territorial Inequalities through a Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13. 10401. 25. Palma J.G. Prebisch, Raul (1901–1986). The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Edited by M. Vernengo, E.P. Caldentey, B.J. Rosser Jr. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 26. Perroux F. Note sur la notion de pole de croissance. Economie Appliquee, 1955, vol. 8, issue 1–2, pp. 307–320. 27. Prebisch R. The Economic Development of Latin America and Its Principal Problems. New York: ECLA, 1950, 59 p. Available at: (accessed January 2024). 28. Pugh R., Dubois A. Peripheries Within Economic Geography: Four ‘Problems’ and the Road Ahead of Us. Journal of Rural Studies, 2021, vol. 87, pp. 267–275. 29. Rodriguez-Pose A. The Rise of Populism and the Revenge of the Places That Don’t Matter. LSE Public Policy Review, 2020, vol. 1, issue 1, 4. 30. Rostow W. The Stages of Economic Growth. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1960, 179 p. 31. Thunen J.H. The Isolated State. Moscow, 1926, 326 p. (In Russian). 32. Venables A.J. New Economic Geography. The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Edited by M. Vernengo, E.P. Caldentey, B.J. Rosser Jr. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 33. Vik J., Fuglestad E.M., Oversveen E. Centre-Periphery Conflicts and Alienation in a Resource-Based Economy. Norwegian Journal of Geography, 2022, vol. 76, issue 4, pp. 197–208. 34. Wallerstein I.M. The Modern World-System: Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. New York: Academic Press, 1974, 410 p. 35. Weber А. Theory of Industrial Location: with the Application of Schlier’s Work ‘Industry in Germany since 1860’. Translated by N. Morozov. Edited by N. Baranskiy. Leningrad – Moscow, 1926, 223 p. (In Russian). |
| Financing | The work was carried out at the Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering SB RAS in accordance with the Institute’s R&D plan for 2024 under the project 5.6.6.4. (0260-2021-0007) ‘Tools, technologies and results of analysis, modeling and forecasting of spatial development of socio-economic system of Russia and its individual territories’ |
| Submitted | 06.03.2024 |
| Approved after reviewing | 11.03.2024 |
| Accepted for publication | 12.03.2024 |
| Available online | 01.04.2024 |