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Patterns in US Urban Growth, 1790-2000

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  • Rafael Gonz�lez-Val
  • Luis Lanaspa

Abstract

G onz�lez- V al R . and L anaspa L. Patterns in US urban growth, 1790-2000, Regional Studies . This paper reconsiders the path of the growth of American cities since 1790 (when the first census was published). The null hypothesis for long-term growth is random growth. Evidence supporting random growth in city sizes is obtained by using panel unit root tests. Growth patterns different from the overall unit root trend detected are also extracted, with evidence found of high intra-distribution mobility (transition matrices) and 'local' mean-reverting behaviours (club convergence). The high mobility and the results of the clustering analysis are interpreted as signs of a sequential city growth pattern toward a random growth steady-state.

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  • Rafael Gonz�lez-Val & Luis Lanaspa, 2016. "Patterns in US Urban Growth, 1790-2000," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 289-309, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:50:y:2016:i:2:p:289-309
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2014.906742
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    3. Alvarez-Dias, Marcos & D'Hombres, Beatrice & Ghisetti, Claudia & Pontarollo, Nicola & Dijkstra, Lewis, 2018. "The Determinants of Population Growth: Literature review and empirical analysis," Working Papers 2018-10, Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
    4. , Aisdl, 2021. "Factors Determining the Development of Minimum Comparable Areas and Spatial Interaction," OSF Preprints 9e7xz, Center for Open Science.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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