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Information Theory: Some Concepts and Measures

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  • J A Walsh
  • M J Webber

Abstract

The concepts of entropy and of information are increasingly used in spatial analysis. This paper analyses these ideas in order to show how measures of spatial distributions may be constructed from them. First, the information content of messages is examined and related to the notion of uncertainty. Then three information measures, due to Shannon, Brillouin, and Good, are derived and shown to be appropriate in analysing different spatial problems; in particular, the Shannon and Brillouin measures are extensively compared and the effects of sample size on them are investigated. The paper also develops appropriate multivariate analogues of the information measures. Finally, some comments are made on the relations between the concepts of entropy, information, and order.

Suggested Citation

  • J A Walsh & M J Webber, 1977. "Information Theory: Some Concepts and Measures," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 9(4), pages 395-417, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:9:y:1977:i:4:p:395-417
    DOI: 10.1068/a090395
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Ezcurra, 2001. "Convergencia Y Cambio Estructural En La Unión Europea," Documentos de Trabajo - Lan Gaiak Departamento de Economía - Universidad Pública de Navarra 0111, Departamento de Economía - Universidad Pública de Navarra.
    2. J. Faíña & Jesús López-Rodríguez, 2004. "European Regional Policy and Backward Regions: Implications Towards EU Enlargement," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 5-32, July.
    3. Jesus Lopez-Rodriguez & J. Andres Faina, 2006. "Objective 1 regions versus non-objective 1 regions. What does the Theil Index tell us?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(12), pages 815-820.
    4. Jesus LÓPEZ-RODRÍGUEZ & J.Andrés FAÍÑA-MEDÍN, 2010. "Regional Policy, Regional Inequalities and Enlargement of the European Union," EcoMod2004 330600094, EcoMod.

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