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A popular term polarizing the main growing and declining regions of the US economy in recent decades: the contrast is between the older industrial districts of the country\'s north-east (the snowbelt — sometimes termed either the frostbelt or the rustbelt) and the rapidly expanding parts of the south and west (the sunbelt). This major shift is usually accounted for by a combination of:
{img src=show_image.php?name=2022.gif } The increasing comparative advantage of the sunbelt states, based on their agricultural and energy resources, relatively cheap and non-unionized labour, and attractive environments; {img src=show_image.php?name=2022.gif } The processes of regional restructuring involved in the creation of a new spatial division of labour to counter the low productivity in the traditional industries during economic recession; and {img src=show_image.php?name=2022.gif } The substantial volume of federal investment in the southern states, reflecting the politics of the pork barrel. The major industries of the sunbelt — aerospace, microprocessors, etc. — are termed the \'sunrise\' industries.The term is now frequently applied in other countries: the expanding industrial corridor along the M4 motorway to the west of London — including Reading, Swindon and Bristol — is sometimes referred to as Britain\'s sunbelt. (RJJ)
Suggested Reading Boddy, M., Lovering, J. and Bassett, K. 1986: Sunbelt city: a study of economic change in Britain\'s M4 growth corridor. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Hall, P.G. et al. 1987: Western sunrise: the genesis and growth of Britain\'s major high-tech western corridor. London: George Allen and Unwin. Markusen, A.R. 1987: Regions: the economics and politics of territory. Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Littlefield. |
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