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The size distribution of websites

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  • Schmeiser, Steven

Abstract

The upper tail of the size distribution of websites follows a power law with slope close to one (Zipf’s law). This finding is robust to measuring website size by unique visitors and page views, and holds for the United States, Germany, and the world. Web traffic in China has less support for a power law.

Suggested Citation

  • Schmeiser, Steven, 2015. "The size distribution of websites," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 62-68.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:128:y:2015:i:c:p:62-68
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2015.01.019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jan Eeckhout, 2004. "Gibrat's Law for (All) Cities," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(5), pages 1429-1451, December.
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    5. Thomas J. Holmes & Sanghoon Lee, 2010. "Cities as Six-by-Six-Mile Squares: Zipf's Law?," NBER Chapters, in: Agglomeration Economics, pages 105-131, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internet; Size distribution; Power law; Zipf’s law;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

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