ABSTRACT
The chapter aims to rationalise scientific reasoning when employing economic development corridors to pursue cohesion and development within Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a REC propagates regional connecting infrastructure, or ‘development corridors’, that ensure increased access between member countries. Primarily, the function of corridors is to connect areas across regions and countries to promote trade. Development corridors are viewed as a network with multisector linkages and are considered most beneficial for economic development. Countries’ modus operandi towards development corridors is primarily supply-driven with the notion of creating an overarching transport solution (morphological or physical connections) that will automatically translate into economic activity and growth. However, lessons learned signified that it has not and will not necessarily work. Offsetting remoteness is more than just physical connections; it also provides for non-physical (functional) connections, such as the sphere of influence of a region and how it can potentially be measured and interpreted. The chapter shows that SADC member countries should engage in exchanges outside the areas of traditional hard infrastructure to foster economic development. It establishes that to mitigate corridor potential, it is to facilitate inter-regional development by enhancing the extent of corridors through scientific reasoning. Scientific reasoning enables an objective and effective spatial targeted strategy as part of the conclusive remarks.
