From theory to implementation: an analysis of the Appalachian Regional Commission's growth center policy

In the 1960s acid early 1970s growth center policies were included in the r egional policies of countries throughout much of the world. However, by the mid-1970s, many academics and government agencies believed that growth cen ter policies were not successful in encouraging regional development, and s ince that time growth center theory has remained, in general, poorly regard ed. In the 1960s, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) implemented a g rowth center policy. Though much has been written about the ARC, there is l ittle research on the Commission's experience in implementing its growth ce nter policy. The author uses historical documentation from the ARC to asses s the Commission's growth center policy, particularly in the context of gro wth center theory. He then utilizes ARC expenditure data to determine the e xtent to which the ARC was able to implement what is best termed a 'modifie d growth center strategy'. It is concluded that the ARC did not implement a policy that was particularly akin to growth center policy as presented in the theoretical literature; however, it is also concluded that the ARC did implement a modified version of a growth center strategy with some success.