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Departures from Gibrat's Law, Discontinuities and City Size Distributions

Author

Listed:
  • Ahjond S. Garmestani

    (South Carolina Co-operative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Program in Policy Studies, Clemson University, G27 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA, agarmes@clemson.edu)

  • Craig R. Allen

    (USGS-Nebraska Co-operative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Program in Policy Studies, University of Nebraska, 423 Hardin Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0984, USA, callen3@unl.edu)

  • Colin M. Gallagher

    (Department of Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University, 0-104 Martin Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0975, USA, cgallag@clemson.edu)

  • John D. Mittelstaedt

    (Department of Marketing, Clemson University, 253 Sirrine Hall, Box 341325, Clemson, SC 29634-1325, USA, jmittel@clemson.edu)

Abstract

Cities are complex, self-organising, evolving systems and the emergent patterns they manifest provide insight into the dynamic processes in urban systems. This article analyses city size distributions, by decade, from the south-eastern region of the US for the years 1860—1990. It determines if the distributions are clustered into size classes and documents changes in the pattern of size classes over time. A statistical hypothesis test was also performed to detect dependence between city size and growth using discrete probability calculations under the assumption of Gibrat's law. The city size distributions for the south-eastern region of the US were discontinuous, with cities clustering into distinct size classes. The analysis also identified departures from Gibrat's law, indicating variable growth rates at different scales.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahjond S. Garmestani & Craig R. Allen & Colin M. Gallagher & John D. Mittelstaedt, 2007. "Departures from Gibrat's Law, Discontinuities and City Size Distributions," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 44(10), pages 1997-2007, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:44:y:2007:i:10:p:1997-2007
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980701471935
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. García, Jorge H. & Garmestani, Ahjond S. & Karunanithi, Arunprakash T., 2011. "Threshold transitions in a regional urban system," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 78(1), pages 152-159.
    2. Valente J. Matlaba & Mark J. Holmes & Philip McCann & Jacques Poot, 2013. "A Century Of The Evolution Of The Urban System In Brazil," Review of Urban & Regional Development Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 129-151, November.
    3. Zora Živanović & Branka Tošić & Teodora Nikolić & Dragica Gatarić, 2019. "Urban System in Serbia—The Factor in the Planning of Balanced Regional Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-19, August.

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