On the Rank-Size Distribution for Human Settlements
@article{Reed2002OnTR, title={On the Rank-Size Distribution for Human Settlements}, author={William J. Reed}, journal={Environmental Economics}, year={2002} }
An explanation for the rank-size distribution for human settlements based on simple stochastic models of settlement formation and growth is presented. Not only does the analysis of the model explain the rank-size phenomenon in the upper tail, it also predicts a reverse rank-size phenomenon in the lower tail. Furthermore it yields a parametric form (the double Pareto-lognormal distribution) for the complete distribution of settlement sizes. Settlement-size data for four regions (two in Spain and…
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