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Cities as spatial clusters

Author

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  • Ferdinand Rauch

Abstract

This article shows that Zipf’s Law for cities can emerge as a property of a clustering process. If initially uniformly distributed people chose their location based on a specific gravity equation as found in trade studies, they will form cities that follow Zipf’s Law in expected value. This view of cities as spatial agglomerations is supported empirically by the observation that larger cities are surrounded by larger hinterland areas and larger countryside populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferdinand Rauch, 2014. "Cities as spatial clusters," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 14(4), pages 759-773.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jecgeo:v:14:y:2014:i:4:p:759-773.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeg/lbt034
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    Cited by:

    1. González-Val, Rafael, 2019. "Lognormal city size distribution and distance," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 7-10.
    2. Ferdinand Rauch, 2016. "The Geometry of the Distance Coefficient in Gravity Equations in International Trade," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(5), pages 1167-1177, November.
    3. Ferdinand Rauch, 2014. "A Fable of Bees and Gravity," Economics Series Working Papers 716, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    4. Watanabe, Axel, 2020. "The Size Distribution of Cities with Distance-Bound Households," MPRA Paper 99746, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. González-Val, Rafael, 2018. "The spatial distribution of US cities," MPRA Paper 89586, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Cuberes, David & Desmet, Klaus & Rappaport, Jordan, 2021. "Urban growth shadows," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    7. Pankaj Bajracharya & Selima Sultana, 2020. "Rank-size Distribution of Cities and Municipalities in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-26, June.
    8. Gomez Osorio, Camilo & Mykhnenko, Vlad, 2025. "Extraordinary African cities? Zipf’s law and the emerging African system of cities☆," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    9. Ferdinand Rauch & Kristiina Tuomikoski, 2019. "The distance elasticity at short distances - A study of the library choice of Oxford students," Economics Series Working Papers 865, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    10. Sergey Kuznetsov & Nikolay Mezhevich & Stanislav Lachininskii, 2015. "The Spatial Recourses and Limitations of the Russian Economy Modernization: the Example of the North-West Macro Region," Economy of region, Centre for Economic Security, Institute of Economics of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, vol. 1(3), pages 25-38.
    11. Rafael González-Val, 2019. "US city-size distribution and space," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 283-300, July.
    12. Rafael González-Val & Miriam Marcén, 2024. "Population growth and taxes: the effect of regional differences in the Spanish inheritance tax," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 73(1), pages 135-163, June.
    13. Ramos, Arturo & Sanz-Gracia, Fernando, 2015. "US city size distribution revisited: Theory and empirical evidence," MPRA Paper 64051, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • 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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