. - *• J" RESEARCH REPORTS 85. SPATIAL ASPECTS ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND URBANIZATION 1 N ~ G H A NA by G. Beckman The object of this research project, in progress since January 1967, is to contribute material towards the understanding of the potenti- alities of manufacturing industry as an instrument for regional economic balancing policies. The problem of the relationship between the spatial development of industry and the distribution of population, employment and services, as expressed in the pattern of urbanization, is here appro- ached from two main angles in a series of studies. ., A. One part of the project thus treats such aspects of the spatial distribution and structure of manufacturing industry which concern its tendency towards agglomeration and concentration and explain its localization in relation to the pattern of urbanization. Under this theme fall the following studies: 1, A study, based on official statistical material, of regional distribution and pattern and degree of urbanization of indus- trial establishments and employment, where the aim is a) the description of the locational patterns of the various industry groups (partly by maps to be contributed'to the National Atlas Project),and b) the analysis of the relation of these patterns to such' variables of the cost structure of the industries which are assumed to be of locational importance.* 2. Studies, based on interviews with the managements of indus- trial establishments, concerning their patterns of contact * Dr. G. Beckman is a Research Fellow in the Department of Human Geography, University of Stockholm, Sweden. *• This study is to be completed by the beginning of the next academic year. RESEARCH REPORTS 86. \ * •" with regard to raw materials, markets, labour and services for information concerning a) degree and pattern of regional orientation and b) degree of horizontal and vertical integra- tion with other establishments at the point and immediate region of location. One series of such interviews was carried out in August and September 1967 covering establishments with more than ten persons engaged in the East- ern Region recorded in the Census of Industries 1962 and which were still of this size. Another series is planned for July and August 1968 covering industries in Accra, where particular emphasis is laid on questions concerning the role of 'agglomeration economies' as a factor of concentration of industry in Accra. 3. A study of regional variations in production costs of locational importance for industries ( i . e. labour, land, foxes and services), mainly for comparison of Accra with other parts of the country. As opposed to the first part of the project, which treats the distribution B. of industry in relation to towns and the attraction of towns to or for industry, the second part of the project is concerned with the relative importance of manufacturing industry as a 'city forming* industry and the effect of industrial development on development of towns. Under this theme fall the following studies: 1. A study, based on official statistics, of the relative importance of manufacturing industry in the economic structure of towns. 2. Studies in the field of the effect of the establishment of a large industry on the population, employment and service development of its locality of location and its immediate region. This study Is planned to include a) interviews with the employees of a large newly-established firm in a small town for information concerning the direct employment and population effect of that industry, and, b) a study of other manufacturing and service establishments in the town of location for information on the RESEARCH REPORTS 87. indirect employment and service effect. a few different towns may be covered for comparisons. Fieldwork for this second part of the project is planned for the first part of 1969. It is hoped that The project is financed by a fellowship from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Stockholm, Sweden, and by grants from the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies. -t- r