  We consider N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories in which the couplings are
allowed to be space-time dependent functions. Both the gauge and the
superpotential couplings become chiral superfields. As has recently been shown,
a new topological anomaly appears in models with space-time dependent gauge
coupling. Here we show how this anomaly may be used to derive the NSVZ beta
function in a particular, well-determined renormalisation scheme, both without
and with chiral matter. Moreover we extend the topological anomaly analysis to
theories coupled to a classical curved superspace background, and use it to
derive an all-order expression for the central charge c, the coefficient of the
Weyl tensor squared contribution to the conformal anomaly. We also comment on
the implications of our results for the central charge a expected to be of
relevance for a four-dimensional C-theorem.
