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SPATIAL SOCIO‐ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN SRI LANKA: CORE‐PERIPHERY FRAMEWORKS
Author(s) -
O'HARE GREGORY P.,
BARRETT HAZEL R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-9663
pISSN - 0040-747X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9663.1998.tb01542.x
Subject(s) - equity (law) , sri lanka , inequality , geography , restructuring , welfare , economic welfare , development economics , distribution (mathematics) , economic restructuring , economic growth , social equality , economics , economic geography , socioeconomics , political science , market economy , mathematical analysis , mathematics , finance , law , tanzania
Core‐periphery tendencies within Sri Lanka are examined in the light of recent equity versus efficiency issues. Because of its long‐term welfare programmes, Sri Lanka is well known for its high quality of life indicators compared to other low income countries, and for its attempts to spread the benefits of socio‐economic development throughout the country. Despite IMF‐driven economic restructuring since 1977 and suggestions of core‐periphery intensification, equity issues have not been totally neglected. Evidence is presented here which demonstrates that the country's quality of life indicators have continued to improve both at the district and national level during the last 20 years. Statistical analysis and mapping of recent district level data on 14 economic and social variables indicate a widespread distribution of welfare benefits across the districts. Moreover, when the variables are aggregated and ranked, simple core‐periphery arrangements, with development declining linearly with distance from a south‐west core centred on Colombo are not easily discernible. Core‐periphery frameworks are modified by a corridor of high development levels from the south‐west to the north‐east.