IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/inrsre/v4y1979i2p97-126.html

A Critical Review of the Development of the Gravity Model

Author

Listed:
  • Chang-i Hua

    (Center for Population Studies Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA)

  • Frank Porell

    (Department of Urban Affairs University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 USA)

Abstract

This paper analyzes and criticizes recent work on gravity models with respect to form, structure, derivation, and theoretical and methodological grounds. The evolution of the model is summarized and a general form is defined. The models are compared as regards certain structural properties — biproportionality, scale, endogeny, consistency, and spatial interaction. The various macro and micro approaches to deriving or interpreting gravity models are reviewed. Problems and limitations of each approach are noted, and their basic theoretical foundations are criticized. Finally, the general trend of gravity model development is discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chang-i Hua & Frank Porell, 1979. "A Critical Review of the Development of the Gravity Model," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 4(2), pages 97-126, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:4:y:1979:i:2:p:97-126
    DOI: 10.1177/016001767900400201
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/016001767900400201
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/016001767900400201?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Morton Schneider, 1959. "Gravity Models And Trip Distribution Theory," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(1), pages 51-56, January.
    2. Tony E. Smith, 1975. "An Axiomatic Theory Of Spatial Discounting Behavior," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 31-43, January.
    3. Martin J. Beckmann & James P. Wallace, 1969. "Evaluation of User Benefits Arising from Changes in Transportation Systems," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(4), pages 344-351, November.
    4. Kelvin J. Lancaster, 1966. "A New Approach to Consumer Theory," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 74(2), pages 132-132.
    5. Walter Isard, 1975. "A Simple Rationale For Gravity Model Type Behavior," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 25-30, January.
    6. Charnes, A. & Raike, W. M. & Bettinger, C. O., 1972. "An extremal and information-theoretic characterization of some interzonal transfer models," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 6(6), pages 531-537, December.
    7. Niedercorn, John H. & Moorehead, Josef D., 1974. "The commodity flow gravity model : A theoretical reassessment," Regional and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 69-75, June.
    8. Piotr Korcelli, 1976. "Urban Spatial Interaction Models in a Planned Economy: A Review," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 1(2), pages 74-87, October.
    9. David L. Huff, 1963. "A Probabilistic Analysis of Shopping Center Trade Areas," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 39(1), pages 81-90.
    10. Thomas F. Golob & Martin J. Beckmann, 1971. "A Utility Model for Travel Forecasting," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 79-90, February.
    11. Choukroun, Jean-Marc, 1975. "A general framework for the development of gravity-type trip distribution models," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 177-202, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. James B. Kau & C.F. Sirmans, 1979. "The Functional Form of the Gravity Model," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 4(2), pages 127-136, December.
    2. Rickard Enström & Olof Netzell, 2008. "Can Space Syntax Help Us in Understanding the Intraurban Office Rent Pattern? Accessibility and Rents in Downtown Stockholm," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 289-305, April.
    3. T E Smith, 1976. "A Spatial-Discounting Theory of Interaction Preferences," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 8(8), pages 879-915, December.
    4. Francisco J. Mas & Juan Luis Nicolau, 2004. "Stochastic Choice Analysis Of Tourism Destinations," Working Papers. Serie AD 2004-07, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    5. Michael Batty, 1972. "Recent Developments in Land-Use Modelling: a Review of British Research," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 9(2), pages 151-177, June.
    6. Walter C. Labys & Chin-wei Yang, 1991. "Advances in the Spatial Equilibrium Modeling of Mineral and Energy Issues," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 14(1), pages 61-94, April.
    7. Ward, Clement E. & Lusk, Jayson L. & Dutton, Jennifer M., 2008. "Implicit Value of Retail Beef Product Attributes," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 33(3), pages 1-18.
    8. Reynolds, Travis & Kolodinsky, Jane & Murray, Byron, 2012. "Consumer preferences and willingness to pay for compact fluorescent lighting: Policy implications for energy efficiency promotion in Saint Lucia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 712-722.
    9. Czajkowski, Mikołaj & Zagórska, Katarzyna & Letki, Natalia & Tryjanowski, Piotr & Wąs, Adam, 2021. "Drivers of farmers’ willingness to adopt extensive farming practices in a globally important bird area," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    10. Canessa, Carolin & Venus, Terese E. & Wiesmeier, Miriam & Mennig, Philipp & Sauer, Johannes, 2023. "Incentives, Rewards or Both in Payments for Ecosystem Services: Drawing a Link Between Farmers' Preferences and Biodiversity Levels," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    11. Onundur Pall Ragnarsson, 2025. "A Hedonic Housing Model for Macroprudential Policy," Economics wp99, Department of Economics, Central bank of Iceland.
    12. Xiaodong Dong & Junling Zhao & Ziyin Zhao & Can Su & Xiaochen Ma, 2026. "Reducing Primary Healthcare Bypass Behaviour: A Discrete Choice Experiment Study Exploring the Preferences for Primary Eye Care Services in Rural Xinjiang," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 19(2), pages 313-328, March.
    13. Hyowon Kim & Dong Soo Kim & Greg M. Allenby, 2020. "Benefit Formation and Enhancement," Quantitative Marketing and Economics (QME), Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 419-468, December.
    14. Anderson, Simon P. & Foros, Øystein & Kind, Hans Jarle, 2012. "Product quality, competition, and multi-purchasing," Discussion Papers 2012/9, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    15. Mika Kortelainen & Timo Kuosmanen, 2007. "Eco-efficiency analysis of consumer durables using absolute shadow prices," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 57-69, October.
    16. Barnett, William A. & Serletis, Apostolos, 2008. "Consumer preferences and demand systems," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 147(2), pages 210-224, December.
    17. Mtimet, Nadhem & Ujiie, Kiyokazu & Kashiwagi, Kenichi & Zaibet, Lokman & Nagaki, Masakazu, "undated". "The effects of Information and Country of Origin on Japanese Olive Oil Consumer Selection," 2011 International Congress, August 30-September 2, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland 114642, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    18. Jitender Singh, 2016. "Quality of Public Goods, Public Policy and Human Development: A State-wise Analysis," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 10(2), pages 215-235, August.
    19. Choi, Andy S., 2013. "Nonmarket values of major resources in the Korean DMZ areas: A test of distance decay," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 97-107.
    20. Doherty, Edel & Campbell, Danny, 2011. "Demand for improved food safety and quality: a cross-regional comparison," 85th Annual Conference, April 18-20, 2011, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 108791, Agricultural Economics Society.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:4:y:1979:i:2:p:97-126. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.