Michael Chisholm – författare

To a remarkable extent, students of location problems have fastened attention upon industrial and urban matters rather than upon agricultural and rural affairs. The preponderance of the former studies undoubtedly reflects the relative importance of the manufacturing and commercial sectors of the technically more advanced countries where most students of location matters have in the past resided. Perhaps it has also seemed that the locational problems posed by city life and factory employment are more amenable than those of the countryside to rigorous analysis.One of the objectives in planning is to reduce the amount of circulation necessary for the conduct of the normal business of living. Geographers have for long claimed an interest in the differences which exist between places and there is an increasing awareness among them that many observable variations of phenomena in space are attributable to relative locations rather than to the intrinsic qualities of the individual places. In many other fields of study and endeavour, such as economics and the organization of retail trade, the problems associated with distance and circulation are receiving increased attention; witness of this is given by studies of the influence of distance upon international trading patterns and the care taken in locating the large peri-urban shopping centres which are being built in the United States.This book will fill the gap. The account which follows does not purport to cover all aspects of, and factors affecting, rural settlement and land-use patterns of location: it is an essay in the logical development of a closely related set of ideas. From the analysis it is evident that certain themes recur at all scales of consideration and under very diverse conditions of the physical environment and of economic development. An attempt is made to examine some of the practical conclusions, which emerge from the argument.

Originally published in 1973, this book reports experiments in the modelling of freight flows in Great Britain, on the basis of 78 origin-destination zones covering the entire country. Its central purpose is to establish whether gravity model or linear programming approaches provide the most appropriate way of describing the existing spatial distribution of freight volumes and hence of predicting future flows, given possible allocations of population. Linear programming appears to be the msot useful way to approach freight modelling on this scale. The model outputs allow the authors to probe the problem of regional comparative advantage in terms of the volume of transport inputs. Although there is some association with the accessibility of regions, it is not true that the peripheral areas are at a serious disadvantage. Furthermore, evidence on the structure of transport costs indicates that movement costs are a surprisingly low proportion of total transport costs - thus further reducing the effects of location. The study concludes with a review of the lines along which work might proceed.

Interest in the geography of economic and social change has grown in Britain over recent years as people have become more aware of regional imbalances and as government influence on the evolution of the country's spatial systems has increased. The processes of spatial allocation are becoming better understood as new techniques of analysis are developed. But weaknesses and inconsistencies in public policies remain and have attracted the attention of workers in various disciplines, particularly geographers. This awareness is reflected in these essays, most of which deal with economic rather than the social problems. They demonstrate the wide range of issues on which geographers can make a relevant contribution.

During the 1990s, the structure of local government in Scotland and Wales was completely reorganised by Acts of Parliament. Under other legislation, and in response to recommendations from the Local Government Commission, there was a partial reorganisation in shire England. This is the only study which examines these reforms in one volume. Running through this study is the contrast between the rhetoric used to justify replacing counties and districts by new unitary authorities and the realities of local government.The book reviews the reasons for the reforms, the processes and outcomes in the three countries, and the nature of the evidence which was available for the advantages and disadvantages of reorganisation. Two chapters compare the prior assessments with the actuality, and the final chapter discusses some important lessons for national governance.This is the only study written by someone who was directly involved in the structural review, as a member of the Local Government Commission, and it combines this special experience with a wealth of information from many sources.The book will be a key text for teachers and students of local government and also important for those studying public administration, government and politics at the second or third year undergraduate level. There should also be a wide readership in local government circles and among MPs and those concerned with public life.

To a remarkable extent, students of location problems have fastened attention upon industrial and urban matters rather than upon agricultural and rural affairs. The preponderance of the former studies undoubtedly reflects the relative importance of the manufacturing and commercial sectors of the technically more advanced countries where most students of location matters have in the past resided. Perhaps it has also seemed that the locational problems posed by city life and factory employment are more amenable than those of the countryside to rigorous analysis.One of the objectives in planning is to reduce the amount of circulation necessary for the conduct of the normal business of living. Geographers have for long claimed an interest in the differences which exist between places and there is an increasing awareness among them that many observable variations of phenomena in space are attributable to relative locations rather than to the intrinsic qualities of the individual places. In many other fields of study and endeavour, such as economics and the organization of retail trade, the problems associated with distance and circulation are receiving increased attention; witness of this is given by studies of the influence of distance upon international trading patterns and the care taken in locating the large peri-urban shopping centres which are being built in the United States.This book will fill the gap. The account which follows does not purport to cover all aspects of, and factors affecting, rural settlement and land-use patterns of location: it is an essay in the logical development of a closely related set of ideas. From the analysis it is evident that certain themes recur at all scales of consideration and under very diverse conditions of the physical environment and of economic development. An attempt is made to examine some of the practical conclusions, which emerge from the argument.

The world economy has undergone rapid evolution in recent decades, along with changes in the importance of industries and their organization, and sharp changes in the fortunes of regions. There are differences of opinion regarding the mainsprings of change and development and the role of goverments in fostering national output. In order to show the relvance of these changes to regional economies, the book focuses on the different schools of economic thought – from the neo-classical, through Keynesian to Marxist/radical ideas and monetarist/supply-side thinking – providing a brief description of their structure in non-spatial terms. The way these theories map into contrasting ideas regarding the mechanisms of regional economic growth is then explained. The book concentrates on developed economies and explicitly seeks to confront theory with fact, fact with theory. Bringing together non-spatial economic thery, regional growth theory and relevant empirical data, this book is intended for students in geography and regional economics but will also be of interest for those studying politics and government.

The world economy has undergone rapid evolution in recent decades, along with changes in the importance of industries and their organization, and sharp changes in the fortunes of regions. There are differences of opinion regarding the mainsprings of change and development and the role of goverments in fostering national output. In order to show the relvance of these changes to regional economies, the book focuses on the different schools of economic thought – from the neo-classical, through Keynesians to Marxist/radical ideas and monetarist/supply-side thinking – providing a brief description of their structure in non-spatial terms. The way these theories map into contrasting ideas regarding the mechanisms of regional economic growth is then explained. The book concentrates on developed economies and explicitly seeks to confront theory with fact, fact with theory. Bringing together non-spatial economic thery, regional growth theory and relevant empirical data, this book is intended for students in geography and regional economics but will also be of interest for those studying politics and government.

Since the time of Adam Smith, there has been a voluminous literature concerned with the differing wealth of nations and the variation in the nature of economic growth, and several schools of thought have held precedence at different times. The fundamental mechanisms have been regarded by some as capital accumulation and investment, and by others as entrepreneurial ability. Modern World Development, first published in 1982, shows that the length of time under consideration materially affects the relative significance assigned to the factors involved; similarly, the size of an area cannot be ignored. Through an examination of the major theories of economic growth, the role of natural resources, the core-periphery model of world development, environmental change and the concept of ‘human capital’, Professor Chisholm has written a stimulating and important book which will appeal to students of economics, history and geography.

Modern World Development, first published in 1982, examines the major theories of economic growth, the role of natural resources, the core-periphery model of world development, environmental change and the concept of ‘human capital’. Professor Chisholm has written a stimulating and important book which will appeal to students of economics, history and geography.

This specially commissioned volume of original essays, first published in 1990, provides a unique view of conflict, territorial behaviour and reconciliation between groups – social, racial, religious and nationalist – within states in both the developed and the developing worlds. The volume as a whole shows the wide range of geographical solutions which have been adopted in attempts to limit conflict and foster stability. This title underlines the importance of a geographical perspective on intergroup conflict and reconciliation, and provides a broad range of real-world experience in carefully chosen case studies. Shared Space: Divided Space will be of interest students of the social sciences as well as to general readers, who will find this title to be accessible and authoritative.

This specially commissioned volume of original essays, first published in 1990, provides a unique view of conflict, territorial behaviour and reconciliation between groups – social, racial, religious and nationalist – within states in both the developed and the developing worlds. The volume as a whole shows the wide range of geographical solutions which have been adopted in attempts to limit conflict and foster stability. This title underlines the importance of a geographical perspective on intergroup conflict and reconciliation, and provides a broad range of real-world experience in carefully chosen case studies. Shared Space: Divided Space will be of interest students of the social sciences as well as to general readers, who will find this title to be accessible and authoritative.

This title, first published in 1973, covers the period of 1959 to 1968. The study suggests that government policies had very little effect on the employment structures of the sub-regions at this time, despite government intervention and policy objectives in Great Britain to reduce levels of unemployment in the depressed regions and curb congestion in the Midland and South East England conurbations. Instead, regional employment structures seemed to be determined by what was happening to industries at a national level.This study will be of interest to economists, planners, regional scientists and geographers, as well as students in these fields.