Polarisation, Dispersion and Decentralisation in the South African Space Economy

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Abstract
Four hypotheses concerning the behaviour of national space economies are proposed by Richardson ( 1973 Richardson, H.W. 1973. Regional Growth Theory, London : Macmillan. [Crossref] [Google Scholar] ). These are that the onset of industrialisation is accompanied by a spatial polarisation of economic activity; that at some stage dispersion of economic activities into other regions occurs; that growth within regions of a national space economy always tend to be spatially concentrated; and that metropolitan areas experience a decentralisation of economic activity from the central city. These hypotheses are tested within the South African context and are found to be valid. However, the stage has not yet been reached in South Africa when polarisation is set in reverse; and in metropolitan areas while manufacturing and retail activities are decentralising, the office function is not. The growth of economic activity in South Africa is measured by gross geographic product data for the period from 1954–55 to 1968.

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