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Testing for Zipf's law: A common pitfall

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  • Urzúa, Carlos M.

Abstract

It is noted that the regression procedure commonly used when testing for Zipf's law is erroneous.

Suggested Citation

  • Urzúa, Carlos M., 2011. "Testing for Zipf's law: A common pitfall," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 112(3), pages 254-255, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:112:y:2011:i:3:p:254-255
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alperovich, Gershon, 1984. "The size distribution of cities: On the empirical validity of the rank-size rule," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 232-239, September.
    2. Urzua, Carlos M., 2000. "A simple and efficient test for Zipf's law," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 257-260, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Zipf's law Rank-size relation;

    JEL classification:

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

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