Vekstpole

Vekstpole, or growth pole, is a regional development concept in which investment is concentrated in a central hub to stimulate economic growth and generate spillover effects in surrounding areas.

The idea emerged in the mid-20th century, associated with French economist François Perroux, who argued that growth centers create linkages that drive wider development. A growth pole is typically a city, industry cluster, or science park chosen as a focal point for coordinated investment in infrastructure, housing, education, and business services, with the aim of triggering broader regional development.

Key features include a core with advanced infrastructure, a skilled workforce, research institutions, and strong transport connections; it relies on forward and backward linkages with surrounding economies and seeks to generate multiplier effects through agglomeration. Policy efforts focus on creating the conditions for growth in the pole and its surroundings, including infrastructure, planning, and supportive business environments.

Policy instruments commonly used to establish a vekstpole are targeted public investment, tax incentives, and support for clusters and innovation ecosystems, often combined with land use planning, housing, and education programs. Successful implementation typically requires coherent coordination among national and local authorities, as well as cooperation with private firms and research institutions.

Critics note that growth poles can reinforce urban primacy or fail to spark balanced regional development if linkages remain weak, and that success depends on demand conditions, governance capacity, and complementarities with peripheral areas. Today the concept is often integrated with wider approaches such as smart specialization and polycentric regional development, emphasizing networks, collaboration, and upgrading regional assets rather than relying on a single dominant center.