Explain the core-periphery model in regional development and give an example.

Explain the core-periphery model in regional development and give an example.

• A. Core regions dominate economic activity and attract investment, while peripheral areas lag behind; example: coastal cities vs interior rural areas.
• B. Periphery regions always lead in innovation.
• C. Core and periphery grow at the same rate.
• D. Core regions are isolated from peripheral areas.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that regional development tends to concentrate in a few dominant areas while others fall behind. Core regions attract most economic activity, investment, and skilled labor, creating agglomeration advantages, better infrastructure, and stronger institutions. This draws resources toward the core and leaves peripheral areas with weaker links, fewer firms, and limited opportunities. An example is coastal cities or metropolitan hubs that dominate finance, industry, and services, compared with interior rural areas that struggle to attract investment and grow. The alternatives don’t fit this pattern because they imply either perpetual peripheral leadership, equal growth, or isolation, none of which reflect the uneven, connected dynamics of the core-periphery model.

The main idea is that regional development tends to concentrate in a few dominant areas while others fall behind. Core regions attract most economic activity, investment, and skilled labor, creating agglomeration advantages, better infrastructure, and stronger institutions. This draws resources toward the core and leaves peripheral areas with weaker links, fewer firms, and limited opportunities. An example is coastal cities or metropolitan hubs that dominate finance, industry, and services, compared with interior rural areas that struggle to attract investment and grow. The alternatives don’t fit this pattern because they imply either perpetual peripheral leadership, equal growth, or isolation, none of which reflect the uneven, connected dynamics of the core-periphery model.