Administrative spatial structure: a note on an alternative approach

Abstract

This note explores the manner in which the administrative system may be related to an economic or functional system in terms of spatial structure. Following the specification of criteria for the spatial structure of a viable administrative system, the salient features of a functional system are outlined. It is shown that when the administrative system is required to correspond to such a functional system in all respects, a crucial criterion cannot generally be satisfied. If, however, this particular criterion is imposed on the administrative system, a feasible structure is possible, which co-exists with the functional system. The two emphases (involving correspondence and co-existence, respectively) are brought together in a worked example, which also demonstrates how a common feature of administrative systems can be accommodated.