The Vance Model of Transport Development

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Based on his work on the eastern seaboard of America, Vance (1970) developed a five-stage ‘mercantile’ model to illustrate the development of transport links and the growth of the urban hierarchy in North America (Figure 3.6). Although primarily concerned with trade, his model is important in that it stresses the impact of exogenous forces on the evolution of transport networks and their associated spatial patterns.


The Vance Model of Transport Development

In the initial stage, an accumulating of wealth in Europe prompted overseas expansion of an exploratory nature. Stage 2 sees the beginnings of the transatlantic trade routes based on the one-way trade in staple products such a fish, furs and timber. From 1620, permanent settlement occurs in North America; this results in Atlantic trade in both directions as settlers begin to produce commodities for export and consume manufactured products from a rapidly industrialising Europe (stage 3). Internal transport links are limited but all are externally orientated, a process that results in linear patterns both along the coast and stretching into the interior.
The 4th stage of the model is characterised by the devel­opment of internal trade and an internal manufacturing industry. The final stage of the model is reached when internal trade dominates North America and is matched by a mature transport and urban system in Europe. Although North America was eventually to lead the world in transport develop­ments, the historical evolution is still apparent in both its transport network and its urban system.

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