Note on the concept of “growth poles”. Models of the stationary economy and of equally diffused growth of an economy do not correspond to observed facts. Economic growth originates in certain zones and proceeds with unequal intensity. It is diffused throughout a system by various channels and affects diversely the whole of the economy. The process of economic growth may be studied in relation to a progressive industry or firm, a group of complementary industries, and the growth of national economies. The growth of a progressive industry in relation to its environment brings out the nature of “external economies”. The relationships observed go beyond those stated in terms of prices only. The contribution of the growth of the firm to the growth of the economy as a whole may be measured by the firm's own net contribution to gross national product and by the growth induced in other sectors. This type of analysis leads to a consideration of industrial centres where key industries and their environment, and the relations between large firms, together generate expansive forces. The great centres of economic activity have repercussions throughout the whole of the national economy whose fate is largely linked to their growth. The concept of growth poles thus makes necessary a reconsideration of the growth of national economies in terms of the inter-relations between the active centres of growth and the rest of the environment. The economic waste engendered by the association between growth poles and national states focuses attention upon an aspect of the nature of balanced growth of the world economy.
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