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A note on the size distribution of cities over time
Journal of Urban Economics
|September 1, 1985
Summary
Nations exhibit a U-shaped pattern in city size concentration over time, with higher development levels correlating with advanced stages of this concentration. This study analyzes urban development using the Pareto Law of Income Distribution.
Area of Science:
- Urban studies
- Economic geography
- Sociology
Background:
- The Pareto Law of Income Distribution is a foundational concept in economics.
- Understanding city size distribution is crucial for urban planning and development.
- Interurban concentration patterns influence national economic and social structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze city size structures using the Pareto Law of Income Distribution.
- To investigate the temporal variation of the Pareto coefficient as a measure of interurban concentration within nations.
- To explore the relationship between national development levels and interurban concentration patterns.
Main Methods:
- Application of the Pareto Law of Income Distribution to city size data.
- Analysis of temporal changes in the Pareto coefficient across 12 nations.
- Cross-sectional analysis among nations to support temporal findings.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a U-shaped pattern in interurban concentration over time within nations.
- Higher national development levels appear to correlate with more advanced stages of urban concentration.
- The Pareto coefficient effectively measures and tracks interurban concentration dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Nations tend to follow a U-shaped trajectory in urban concentration over their development.
- National development stage is a significant factor in determining the pattern of city size distribution.
- Further research can explore the underlying drivers of this temporal concentration pattern.
Keywords:
Comparative StudiesDemographic AnalysisDemographic FactorsEconomic DevelopmentEconomic FactorsGeographic FactorsPopulationPopulation CharacteristicsPopulation DensityPopulation DynamicsPopulation Size--changesResearch MethodologySpatial DistributionTime FactorsUrban PopulationUrban Spatial DistributionUrbanizationWorld
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