Theory of the distribution of city sizes: Review and prospects

Richardson H. W. (1973) Theory of the distribution of city sizes: Review and prospects, Reg. Studies 7, 239-251. The distribution of city sizes may be represented by any one of three similar statistical relationships: the lognormal, Pareto and ranksize distributions. This paper surveys existing and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Regional studies Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 239 - 251
Main Author: Richardson, Harry W.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.1973
Cambridge University Press
Subjects:
City size distribution
Distribution de dimensions urbaines
Economic models
Effet proportionné
Größenordnung
Hierarchie
Hierarchy
Hiérarchie
Lognormal
Markov chain
Markov-Ketten
Modèles économiques
Pareto
Proportionaleffekt
Proportionate effect
Rang-dimension
Rank-size
Simultane Multiplikativtheorie
Simultaneously multiplicative theory
Stochastic
Stochastique
Stochastisch
Städtegrößenverteilung
Série Markov
Théorie simultanément multiplicatrice
Ökonomische Modelle
Иерархия
Логарифмическое нормальное распределение
Одновременно мультипликативный эффект
Парето
Пропорциональный зффект
Распределение величин городов
Распределение порядковых рангов
Цепь Маркова
Экономические моделя
ISSN:0034-3404, 1360-0591
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Richardson H. W. (1973) Theory of the distribution of city sizes: Review and prospects, Reg. Studies 7, 239-251. The distribution of city sizes may be represented by any one of three similar statistical relationships: the lognormal, Pareto and ranksize distributions. This paper surveys existing and suggests new theories capable of generating one or more of these distributions. The types of theory analysed include hierarchy, stochastic, economic and allometric growth models. Specific attention is focused on two new possibilities, Markov chain models of interurban migration and capital flows and a simultancously multiplicative theory. However, the predictions of all the models are too insensitive for any one to be preferred via comparison of actual and predicted size distributions. A satisfactory explanation probably needs to draw upon both systematic and stochastic factors.
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ISSN:0034-3404
1360-0591
DOI:10.1080/09595237300185241