Regional economic development: An export stages framework

A framework is outlined which provides a generalized account of the process of regional development over the long nm. The framework utilizes a stages approach, the first stage representing one of regional economic closure. Ea ch subsequent stage involves the regional export base being dominated by a particular sector of economic activity. The sequence of stages tin terms of the sectors dominating the Export base) is as follows: primary; secondary (separated into two types); tertiary. Development of the region does not ge nerally depend on passage through the sequence of stages but rather on the overall expansion of its export base. (JEL R11).