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THE THEORY OF CORE AND
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• The core-periphery model is
a theory in human geography
that explains the spatial
organization of economic,
political, and cultural power
within a region. It suggests
that there is a dominant core
area with high levels of
development surrounded by
a less developed periphery.
THE THEORY OF CORE-PERIPHERY GROWTH C
KEYWORDS O
• Core; R
 Periphery; E
 World regions;
 Economic geography; A
N
• Core–periphery the
D
concept of a developed
core surrounded by an P
undeveloped periphery. The E
concept can be applied at R
various scales.
Http://www.pacificusforum.com I
• Core–periphery model is based on the idea that as one region or state expands in P
economic prosperity. H
E
• The area of high growth or former high growth becomes known as the core, and the
R
neighboring area is the periphery. Cores and peripheries can be towns, cities, states,
or nations.
Y
 WORLD SYSTEMS ANALYSIS C
• There is a Global Economy which all countries O
are a part of. Therefore countries are R
interdependent and development in one E
country depends on the country’s position in
the Global Economy (World system).
A
• The Global Economy is divided into the Core, N
Semi Periphery and Periphery.
D
• The application of core–periphery theory at
the global scale identifies the developed P
countries of the world as the economic core E
of the global economic system and the R
developing countries as the economic I
periphery.
P
H
Other terms used to distinguish between the richer and poorer nations are:
E
• developed and developing countries. R
• more economically developed countries (MEDCs) and less economicallydeveloped Y
countries (LEDCs).
http://www.Cambridge.org/global interaction
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• The core countries are the industrialized capitalist countries on P

which periphery countries and semi-periphery countries depend. Core E
countries control and benefit from the global market. R
CORE COUNTRIES I
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http://em.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/core_countries
SEMI-PERIPHERY COUNTRIES:
• the semi-periphery countries (sometimes referred to as just the semi-periphery) are C
the industrializing, mostly capitalist countries which are positioned between the O
periphery and core countries. Semi-periphery countries have organizational R
characteristics of both core countries and periphery countries and are often
geographically located between core and peripheral regions as well as between two or
E
more competing core regions
• Semi-peripheral countries contribute to the manufacturing and exportation of a variety A
of goods. They are marked by above average land mass, as exemplified by China, India, N
Brazil, Mexico, and Iran. D
http://en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/semi-periphery-countries

PERIPHERY COUNTRIES: P
• The periphery countries (sometimes referred to as just the periphery) are those that are E
less developed than the semi-periphery and core countries. These countries usually R
receive disproportionately small share of global wealth. I
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http://em.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/periphery_countries
• The core goes along coast of India with cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, C
Chennai ,Hyderabad. Also there is another core around city new Delhi. The periphery is O
inland with Madhya Pradesh and other cities inland are the periphery where primary
industries are dominant.
R
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John Friedmann’s Stages of Growth A

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Gives a more detailed explanation of D
periphery and highlights that spatial
inequalities change over time. P
Stage 1 – No urban hierarchy E
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Stage 2 – Primate city I
Stage 3 – Regional sub-centres P
Stage 4 – Regional inequalities are H
reduced in a fully integrated urban E
system R
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http://greenfieldgeography.wikispaces.com/global+core+and+periphery
Stage 1 – No urban hierarchy: In the initial stage of urban
development, there is no clear hierarchy among cities or urban
centers. Population and economic activities are dispersed across
various settlements, often in rural areas or small villages. There
is minimal specialization, and each settlement may cater to the
basic needs of its immediate population.
Stage 2 – Primate city: As urbanization progresses, one city
emerges as a primate city, significantly larger and more dominant
than other urban centers in the country. This primate city, such as
Manila in the Philippines or Bangkok in Thailand, concentrates a
disproportionate share of the population, economic activities,
cultural institutions, and political power. This concentration leads
to spatial inequalities, where the primate city benefits from better
infrastructure, higher investment, and more extensive
opportunities compared to other cities or rural areas.
Stage 3 – Regional sub-centers: In this stage, regional sub-centers begin to
develop as secondary urban hubs within the country. These sub-centers emerge
due to factors such as economic growth, infrastructure development, and
government policies aimed at decentralization. These cities may specialize in
specific industries, services, or functions, becoming important contributors to
regional development and reducing some spatial inequalities. However, the
primate city still maintains its dominance, albeit with a slightly diminished
margin.
Stage 4 – Regional inequalities are reduced in a fully integrated urban
system: As urbanization and economic development continue, efforts are made to
create a more balanced and integrated urban system. Policies focusing on regional
development, infrastructure investment, and decentralization help reduce spatial
inequalities. Regional cities grow in importance, becoming more interconnected
through improved transportation and communication networks. Economic
opportunities become more evenly distributed, and the gap between the primate
city and other urban centers narrows. While the primate city remains significant,
its dominance is less pronounced, and regional cities play a more substantial role
in driving the country's overall development
Urban Hierarchy- The urban hierarchy ranks
each city based on the size of population residing within the
nationally defined statistical urban area. Because urban
population depends on how governments define
their metropolitan areas, urban hierarchies are
conventionally ranked at the national level; however, the
ranking can be extended globally to include all cities.

A primate city is a city that is the largest in

its country, province, state, or region, and
disproportionately larger than any others in the urban
hierarchy.
 A “CORE-PERIPHERY RELATIONSHIP” ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
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• On an international level, core refers to DCs like colonial powers (Britain, O
France, Netherlands) while periphery refers to LDCs like some former colonies R
(Malaya & Singapore, French Indo-China, Indonesia) E
• Generally, core country better employment opportunities in secondary & A
tertiary industries due to presence of infra-structure like transport cum
N
telecommunication links, wealth, good housing, access to electricity & piped
D
water supply, schools, hospitals & amenities like shopping & entertainment,
hence attractive to foreign investment.
P
• Periphery country fundamentally agriculture & mining based economy with E
limited infra-structure, limited access to social services, hence fewer job R
opportunities. I
P
• Periphery provides core with resources like cheap raw materials & labour H
thus enhancing industrial expansion & wealth accumulation in core. E
R
• Meanwhile, periphery drained of labour because workers from periphery
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attracted to better paid jobs in core.
https://sites.google.com/site/chapter8devlopment/core-periphery-theory
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www.amyglenn.com
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• Advantages to the periphery is known as the Spread Effect, while disadvantages to the Y
periphery is known as the Backwash Effect.
 C
Spread Effects O
Positive effects of the core’s growth on the periphery. Core unable to supply all the R
products the Core is demanding so supply from the Periphery to the Core. Core E
becomes affected by NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES (high rents, overcrowding,
congestion) so firms locate in periphery.
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theory
 Backwash Effects C
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Negative effects of the core’s growth on the periphery. Out-migration of
R
economically active people, outflows of capital, decreasing tax base, firms
of the periphery not able to compete with the firms of the core and E
therefore periphery being flooded with core’s products.
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https://sites.google.com/site/chapter8devlopment/core-periphery-theory
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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http://en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/semi-periphery-countries
http://em.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/core_countries A
http://em.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/periphery_countries N
http://www.Cambridge.org/global interaction
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https://sites.google.com/site/chapter8devlopment/core-periphery-theory
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http://www.amyglenn.com E
http://www.pacificusforum.com R
http://greenfieldgeography.wikispaces.com/global+core+and+periphery I
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