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Spatial Definitions of the City: Four Perspectives

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  • John B. Parr

    (Department of Urban Studies, University of Glasgow, 25 Bute Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, J.B.Parr@socsci.gla.ac.uk)

Abstract

The extent of the city is important in a number of respects, not least in relation to the question of city size, an issue of considerable significance in urban and regional analysis. Four definitions of the city are considered here. The first involves the city as a physical entity, or the area devoted to primarily urban uses. This Built City (BC) is perhaps the most familiar perception of the city, largely because it is relatively easy to visualise. The BC forms the core or basis of each of the other three definitions of the city. These are as follows: the Consumption City (an area within which most of the consumption of goods and services occurs in the BC); the Employment City (an area in which the bulk of the employed workforce works in the BC); and the Workforce City (an area upon which the BC draws for a given majority of its labour requirements). These four definitions of the city are brought together and shown to be interrelated.

Suggested Citation

  • John B. Parr, 2007. "Spatial Definitions of the City: Four Perspectives," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 44(2), pages 381-392, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:44:y:2007:i:2:p:381-392
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980601075059
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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.
    2. Martin Mogridge & John Parr, 1997. "Metropolis or Region: On the Development and Structure of London," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 97-115.
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    4. Unknown, 1962. "Community Development and Economic Development," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 17(3), pages 1-2.
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    1. Luederitz, Christopher & Brink, Ebba & Gralla, Fabienne & Hermelingmeier, Verena & Meyer, Moritz & Niven, Lisa & Panzer, Lars & Partelow, Stefan & Rau, Anna-Lena & Sasaki, Ryuei & Abson, David J. & La, 2015. "A review of urban ecosystem services: six key challenges for future research," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 14(C), pages 98-112.
    2. Ilenia Epifani & Rosella Nicolini, 2013. "On The Population Density Distribution Across Space: A Probabilistic Approach," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 481-510, August.
    3. Yong Liu & Peilei Fan & Wenze Yue & Jingnan Huang & Dong Li & Zongshun Tian, 2019. "Assessing Polycentric Urban Development in Mountainous Cities: The Case of Chongqing Metropolitan Area, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, May.

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