Although there must be some doubts about the value of economic and social analyses of peripheral minority groups in promoting their interests, an account of the spatial dimensions of the Traveller community in England may at least help to dispel some myths. Counts of caravans compiled by the Department of the Environment are described using exploratory data methods. The distributional pattern and the patterns of variability and periodicity provide some clues about the factors contributing to change, but local studies are required to complement this kind of analysis if the statistics are to be useful in critical evaluations of policy.
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