Such subsets have the potential to leave the planning practitioner operationally
stalled. Of greater relevance, but still frustrating to development and conservancy,
are Friedmann’s (1966) exhortations for the detection of intra-regional linkages,
mostly the identification of worthy outcomes for ‘distressed’ regions within an
inter-connected ‘core-frontier-distressed’ regional set. While the dynamics of extra-
regional and within-region data calls for analysis, it is easier to whistle up the
general arguments than to perform the specified analyticaltasks. In regional plan-
ning practice it was ever thus: the problem being to make the likes of ongoing sea-
sonal flow data fit the rest of a calendar year, to render the vagaries of project
invoicing amenable to the tax year, and to provide a depiction of all manner of
employment and consumer data trends.
Extra-Regional Analysisof trading activity with the rest of the world is clearly
focused on between-region linkages, the aim being to increase that outward trade
by facilitating between-regional production and service activities. Conceptually,
such an analysis attempts to render the whole of a ‘region of concern’ an a-spatial
entity. A practical start can be made by setting up a tabulation of data which par-
allels the annual money worth of flows, both ways, across regional boundaries,
supplemented by an assessment of equity and debt, and outflows and inflows of
cash and cash-equivalents. This kind of data is generally available for a whole
state or province. The quality of the information (gathered for taxation purposes
and to serve industrial commercial and consumer groups) forms the basis of
national assessments, and in these terms subset depictions are usually available.
The format devised is, of course, specific to each subject region. And provided
consistent double-entry eliminating procedures are applied, and equal-valued
‘profit’ and ‘loss’ flows are cancelled, it is possible to establish a figure for gross
capital production (exports less imports). This, when positive and increasing, is
the harbinger of more projects and increased consumer spending.^5
Within-Region Analysisof linkage and flow information highlights potentialsfor
improvement, along with possibilities for problemcorrection. This is particularly
the case for production activities where the flow of inputs into a plant, and the
onward linkage from such a plant for product finishing, is essential pattern infor-
mation. This is a ‘production’ emphasis. In terms of some ‘welfare’ facilities
(regional hospitals for example), flow and linkage constructs have been in use for
decades – operational experience which is often overlooked.
Questions to ask about the source and flow of inputs to an industrial produc-
tion plant are: firstin relation to raw materials of all kinds, their sources and sup-
pliers, and the delivery costs; secondto identify those raw materials imported to
the region which could be made available locally (even at a cost premium); third
to identify resources for which environmentally acceptable substitutes can be
found where the preference for this is indicated. A major plant, for example, could
take up hydro-generated electrical energy ‘imported’ from another region; or gen-
erate power from within-region sources (say, using ‘brown coal’), then enter a
‘mitigation of adverse effects’ set of environmental and economic considerations
to determine the net within-region costs and benefits.
Linkage studies set out specifically to assess the time taken, and the fiscal costs
and time costs involved, at points (usually towns) for breaking down raw ma-
Growth Pattern Management 131