The measurement of intrametropolitan geo-economic space in South Africa: The PWV as an example

Abstract

An attempt has been made to develop an economic potential model to facili­tate the analysis of the geo-economic space in and around development cen­tres in South Africa. The Pretoria­Witwatersrand-Vaal Triangle area is used as an example to illustrate the quantification of economic potential maps in this study. It is a geometrical model which indicates the geographi­cal extent of gradually changing levels of economic potential, based on eco­nomic indicators consisting of popula­tion, labour, and income variables. As a normative model, it offers the plan­ner the opportunity of an objective comparison of areas which in terms of development criteria may differ great­ly from one another, and as such con­stitutes an instrument which can be used in conjunction with other con­ventional research results in the formu­lation of development policies in the formal economic sector on a regional and supra-regional level.