Further thoughts on the shift and share approach

A components model for disaggregating regional productivity variations

“…Such an approach has a basis in economic theory (SOLOW, 1957, but see KALDOR, 1960, and ROBINSON, 1962 for criticisms) whereas it must be admitted that the present approach cannot he referenced to any ready-made theoretical base, although NORCLIFFE and MITCHELL (1977) have attempted to sketch some of the elements involved. STILWELL (1970) points to a similar paucity of the6ry underpinning shift-share analysis.…”

“…One type of regional components model that received considerable attention in the literature of the late 1960s and early 1970s was shift-share analysis of regional industrial growth. Several dozen papers appeared at that time developing shift-share analysis in two main directions: first, there were technical and interpretational developments represented, for instance, by STILWELL (1969STILWELL ( , 1970, TOWNROE (1969) and BUCK (1970); and second there were empirical studies of industrial growth at the national and regional level, of which THIRLWALL (1967) STEED (1967) and PARASKEVOPOULOS (1974) are examples. This author knows of only one other instance in which the aim has been to adapt the regional components model to a new context, that being a study by PARIS (1970) applying the method to population growth and change, although STILWELL (1970) indicates the possibility of applying the technique to productivity analysis.…”

“…Several dozen papers appeared at that time developing shift-share analysis in two main directions: first, there were technical and interpretational developments represented, for instance, by STILWELL (1969STILWELL ( , 1970, TOWNROE (1969) and BUCK (1970); and second there were empirical studies of industrial growth at the national and regional level, of which THIRLWALL (1967) STEED (1967) and PARASKEVOPOULOS (1974) are examples. This author knows of only one other instance in which the aim has been to adapt the regional components model to a new context, that being a study by PARIS (1970) applying the method to population growth and change, although STILWELL (1970) indicates the possibility of applying the technique to productivity analysis. Since the essence of a regional components model is to break down a phenomenon into distinct components, at least one of which is associated with regional structural characteristics (defined in any appropriate way), 'there is no reason in principle why it could not also be used on other aspects of a region's performance' (CUNNINGHAM, 1969).…”

Regional Specialisation in the Agricultural Industry

“…Shift and share analysis is applicable to any data which can be decomposed into areas and sectors (Paris, 1970), and while used mainly in relation to regional industrial employment (Bishop and Simpson, 1972), the technique has been extended to analyse population change (Bunce, 1974), rural development (Curtis, 1972) and agricultural change (Saldivar, 1979). The technique is used here purely as a descriptive device, its inappropriateness for explanation and forecasting having been identified by several writers (Stilwell, 1970). For the present analysis, the formulae of O'Farrell (1972) and Dawson (1974) are used since they do nor employ assumptions on future values for the study area or forecasts of annual growth rates.…”

Sectoral Structure and Regional Wage Differentials: A Shift and Share Analysis on 40 Dutch Regions for 1973.

“…Data on sectoral wages and employment were published for 1970for , 1971for and 1973for (CBS 1975. A preliminary analysis was made for 1970 and197 1 (Oosterhaven et al 1977). Unfortunately, the data for these years are poor and cannot directly be compared with those for 1973.…”