The Spatial Pattern of Income Generation in Lead Firm, Growth Area Linkage Systems

* The author wishes to express his appreciation to W. B. Beyers, M. D. Thomas, and R. B. LeHeron for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. The research was completed while the author was Visiting Research Associate in the Department of Geography, University of Washington, 1973. The financial support of the National Science Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. Cartographic support was provided by the University of Wisconsin Cartographic Lab. 1 Throughout the paper, the term growth area will be taken to include the urban growth centers within the growth area as defined by the principal commuting zone. 1968 period. The analysis utilizes an input-output approach to determine (1) the magnitude of income generated within the growth area commuting zone through the income multiplier linkage system, and (2) the spatial pattern and magnitude of income generated through the interindustry linkage system. If the Boeing example is typical of many conte porary lead firms, the findings of the analysis provide a basis for evaluating certain fundamental concepts of growth pole and growth center theories. The growth area is defined as Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Kitsap Counties. This group of counties is dominated by the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma conurbation.