Cover -- Half Title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Original Title Page -- Original copyright Page -- Preface -- Contents -- Chapter 1 What are Regional Economic Problems? -- What are regions? -- Regional grievances -- Grounds for national concern -- Chapter 2 Why Do Regional Problems Exist? -- Equilibrium with unequal growth rates -- The roots of inequality between regions -- Structural and other advantages -- 'Cumulative and circular causation' -- Other mechanisms of self-reinforcement -- Chapter 3 Types of Problem Region -- The backward region in developing countries -- The backward region in more developed countries -- Mineral-producing regions -- Manufacturing regions -- 'Congested' regions in developing countries -- 'Congested' regions in developed countries -- Chapter 4 Agricultural Problem Regions -- World agricultural trends -- British agricultural problem areas -- Northern Sweden -- The south of Italy -- The west of France -- Rural Spain -- West Germany -- The southern United States -- Chapter 5 Coal-Mining Problem Regions -- The worldwide coal industry -- Regional differences in production and growth -- Dependence on coal -- Adjustments to change -- Unemployment -- Female employment and male activity rates -- The legacy of coal mining -- Policy and outcomes -- Chapter 6 Depressed Manufacturing Regions -- 'Structural' and 'regional' factors -- 'Structural' and 'regional' factors in particular countries -- The background of the textile industries -- The north-west region -- North-east Lancashire -- The northern French textile area -- New England -- Conclusion -- Chapter 7 Agglomerations and Congested Regions in Advanced Countries -- Senses of 'congestion' -- Urban congestion and size -- Advantages of scale -- Optimal urban size -- Optimal regional population -- Concern at urban concentration -- The automatic brake on congestion