This report investigates the efficacy and implementation of the growth centre concept as a mechanism for regional economic development within the EFTA member states. The Economic Development Committee of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) compiled this study to evaluate how concentrated industrial and infrastructure investment influences surrounding geographic areas. The text provides a framework for policymakers to assess whether growth centres successfully stimulate regional prosperity or merely create isolated economic enclaves.

Experts identify this report as a foundational document for understanding mid-20th-century regional planning strategies in Europe. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is intended primarily for economists and policy analysts.