THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK OF REGIONAL 
PLANNING 
JAN} TINBERGEN (+) 
Vederlandsche Economische Hoogeschool 
Rotterdam - Nederland 
1. Development planning has become an established acti- 
vity in many countries after World War II and both a practice 
and a theory have emerged. It is only natural that practical 
devices were in use before a somewhat integrated theory was 
available and it also stands to reason that both practice and 
theory are still changing. Most of the common body of theory 
which is nowadays accepted by a majority of development 
planners deals with an economy subdivided into sectors, that 
is industries or activites — depending on the type of analysis 
used. One of the main reasons for working with such models 
is no doubt that the proper choice of sectors promising « com- 
parative advantages » in international competition is of para 
mount importance for the success of any development policy 
Even so, however, another « dimension » in economic de- 
velopment is increasingly requiring attention, namely the spa- 
tial or ve “onal aspect. Many governments. especially those 
*) Professor Jax TINBERGEN was unable to attend although he had 
noped to be one of the participants in the Study-Week up to the last 
ninute. We are happy to include in the present volume his communication 
which he sent in advance 
Tinbergen - pag.