The rapid growth in Britain's trading relationships with Europe in the postwar period is often interpreted to imply a significant shift in the relative advantages of locations in the southeastern part of the country. Such a shift ought to be evident in the pattern of traffic through the ports. At the aggregate level, there has indeed been some shift in the relative importance of ports in favour of the southeast. Closer inspection shows, however, a complex pattern of change, in which port location is only one factor. The evidence of the port data, when considered in conjunction with evidence on transport costs and other factors, suggests that theories of the centralisation of production miss much of importance; competitive efficiency can generally compensate for any transport-cost disadvantages arising from location.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BachtlerJ, 1988, “EC regional policy and the member states: The regional implications of the Single European Market”, mimeograph, European Policies Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
2.
BachtlerJClementK, 1990a, “Regional peripherality in the Single European Market, with particular reference to Ireland and Scotland”, RP-10, European Policies Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
3.
BachtlerJClementK, 1990b, “Inward investment in the UK and the Single European Market”Regional Studies24173–180
4.
BalassaB, 1962The Theory of Economic Integration (Allen and Unwin, London)
5.
BalassaB, 1989Comparative Advantage. Trade Policy and Economic Development (Harvester Wheatsheaf, Hemel Hempstead, Herts)
6.
BeggI, 1990, “The Single European Market and the UK regions”, in Cambridge Regional Economic Review. The Economic Outlook for the Regions and Counties of the United Kingdom in the 1990s, Eds CameronGMooreBNichollsDRhodesJTylerP, Cambridge Economic Consultants and Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, pp 89–104
7.
BröckerJPeschelK, 1988, “Trade”, in Regional Impact of Community Policies in Europe Eds MolleWCappellinRAvebury, Aldershot, Hants) pp 127–151
8.
BrownA J, 1969, “Surveys of applied economics: Regional economics, with special reference to the United Kingdom”Economic JournalLXXIX759–796
9.
BrownA J, 1972The Framework of Regional Economics in the United Kingdom (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)
10.
Cecchini Report, 1988The European Challenge 1992: The Benefits of a Single MarketCecchiniPCatinatMJacqueminA (Wildwood House, Aldershot, Hants)
11.
ChampionA GGreenA E, 1985, “In search of Britain's booming towns: An index of local economic performance for Britain”, DP-72, Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne
12.
ChisholmM, 1971, “Freight transport costs, industrial location and regional development”, in Spatial Policy Problems of the British Economy Eds ChisholmMMannersGCambridge University Press, Cambridge) pp 213–244
13.
ChisholmM, 1985, “Accessibility and regional development in Britain: Some questions arising from data on freight flows”Environment and Planning A17963–980
14.
ChisholmM, 1987, “Regional variations in transport costs in Britain with special reference to Scotland”Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers12303–314
15.
ChisholmM, 1990Regions in Recession and Resurgence (Unwin Hyman, Hemel Hempstead, Herts)
16.
ClarkCWilsonFBradleyJ, 1969, “Industrial location and economic potential in Western Europe”Regional Studies3197–212
17.
Department of Employment, 1990, “The peaceful revolution. A progress report on changes since the repeal of the National Dock Labour Scheme”Employment Gazette (July) pp 360–364
18.
DoT/NPC, 1980Inland Origins and Destinations of UK International Trade 1978Department of Transport and the National Ports Council; copy available from Department of Transport, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB
HamiltonKGregoryA, 1989, “Channel Tunnel—vicious circle. Pilot study: The impact of the Channel Tunnel on the North of England”, research study 2, Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Alberton House, St Mary's Parsonage, Manchester M3
21.
HirschmanA O, 1958The Strategy of Economic Development (Yale Univesity Press, New Haven, CT)
22.
HitchensD M W NWagnerKBirnieJ E, 1990Closing the Productivity Gap. A Comparison of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and West Germany (Avebury, Aldershot, Hants)
23.
HoareA G, 1977, “The geography of British exports”Environment and Planning A9121–136
24.
HoareA G, 1985, “Great Britain and her exports: An exploratory regional analysis”Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale GeografieLXXVI9–21
25.
HoareA G, 1986, “British ports and their export hinterlands: A rapidly changing geography”Geografiska Annaler B6829–40
26.
HoareA G, 1988, “Geographical aspects of British overseas trade: A framework and a review”Environment and Planning A201345–1364
27.
HollidayI MVickermanR W, 1990, “The Channel Tunnel and regional development: Policy responses in Britain and France”Regional Studies24455–466
28.
KeebleDOwensP LThompsonC, 1982, “Regional accessibility and economic potential in the European Community”Regional Studies16419–431
29.
MartinR L, 1988, “The political economy of Britain's north—south divide”Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers13389–418
30.
MartinR L, 1989, “Regional imbalance as consequence and constraint in national economic renewal”, in The Restructuring of the UK Economy Ed. GreenFHarvester Wheatsheaf, Hemel Hempstead, Herts) pp 80–97
31.
MooreBRhodesJTylerP, 1986The Effects of Government Regional Economic Policy (HMSO, London)
32.
MullockP JPembertonJSinghL, 1989, “Origins, destinations and transport of UK international trade 1986”Statistics Bulletin89, 31 (Department of Transport, London)
33.
MyrdalG, 1957Economic Theory and Under-developed Regions (Duckworth, London)
PEIDA, 1984Transport Costs in Peripheral RegionsPEIDA (Planning and Economic Consultants), 10 Chester Street, Edinburgh EH3 4AU
36.
Regional Studies Association, 1983Report of an Inquiry into Regional Problems in the United Kingdom (Geo Books, Norwich)
37.
Secretary of State for Employment, 1989Employment in the Docks: The Dock Labour Scheme Cm 664 (HMSO, London)
38.
TCPA, 1990, “The Channel Tunnel. The case for a railway development strategy to benefit the whole of the United Kingdom”, mimeograph, Town and Country Planning Association, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AS
39.
TylerPKitsonM, 1987, “Geographical variations in transport costs of manufacturing firms in Great Britain”Urban Studies2461–73
40.
TylerPMooreBRhodesJ, 1988, “Geographical variations in industrial costs”Scottish Journal of Political Economy3522–50
41.
VickermanR W, 1989, “After 1992—the South East as a frontier region”, in London Papers in Regional Science 20. Growth and Change in a Core Region: The Case of South East England Eds. BrehenyMCongdonPPion, London) pp 87–105
42.
VickermanR WFlowerdewA D J, 1990The Channel Tunnel: The Economic and Regional Impact (Economist Intelligence Unit, London)
