Thèse--Université de Paris.

While many observers recognize the significance of the city size distribution topic, the resolution of several apparent inconsistencies in the body of literature has not yet been achieved. This may explain why geographers, sociologists, demographers, historians, economists, and planners essentially tend to describe intercity patterns, are biased toward ad hoc interpretations, and are prone to making intuitive statements in their research. The primary purpose of this thesis is to evolve a more consistent methodological viewpoint within the community size topic. Efforts are made to unite analytical statements resting upon a common premise, to qualify, in this light, the approaches prevalent in empirical research, and to relate theory and empiricism by adopting a flexible explanatory framework. The discussion necessarily involves a critique of existing arguments and certain extensions that, we can devise from those arguments. While there is considerable attention directed to presenting empirical methodologies, no original data analysis is included. Contending that the notions should be bound together within a systems framework, we naturally devote initial emphasis to the features of central place systems as outlined in the partial equilibrium theory of Christaller (1966) and Losch (1954). We place particular stress upon the Christaller model, the simpler and apparently more realistic of the two approaches. A major thrust of the paper is an integration of several city size models, all of which display a Christallarian hierarchy. The simplest models are shown to be special cases of a more general formulation given by Dacey (1966). Besides, we illustrate to what degree the characteristic property (that is, the constant proportionality factor) of the most elementary model (Beckmann, 1958) may be considered a limit of empirical generalization. Using the hierarchial concept, we also provide some rather novel views on the relation between community economic base and the distribution theme. It is felt that this subtopic may be useful in bridging the intra-and interurban scales. The widely expounded rank-size rule, essentially a consequence of empirical research, is then formally attached to the hierarchical models. At this stage our arguments become increasingly rigorous in order to qualify certain intuitive notions that seem accepted in the literature. The idea of hierarchical sets is crudely developed to complement the uni-hierarchy arguments. The basic conclusion here is that existing city size models hardly explain the rank-size phenomenon butt that the two notions cannot be considered totally incompatible. Empirical research methodologies are stressed as another fundamental subtopic. We suggest certain avenues along which empirical efforts must be strengthened before either (i) rigorous inductive generalizations or (ii) firm theory substantiation become more realizable. Particular attention is given to delimitation of the study area (and, therefore to the scale problem), the comparison of frequency curves, and the value of inferences we can make using rather crude statistical tools. At this stage we introduce other skew distributions that are genetically similar to the rank-size curve. Furthermore, the stochastic models that seemingly account for these distributions are taken to complement the deterministic theory mentioned above. Here we support the central place argument as the only existing source of models that explicate those factors inducing spatial differentiation of economic activities and, as a consequence, urban populations. Finally, we pursue the idea of growth within the interurban structure. At this time, however, discussion is certainly exploratory and so is limited to developing notions concerning the interrelations of growth variables (population, income, etc.) and hierarchal structure in the broadest sense. Within this analytic framework we can suggest only the most general factors that may be associated with low degrees of primacy (a quality of interurban structure that we view as a deviation from a characteristic skew distribution). This particular subtopic promises to be an exciting research theme in its own right as investigators move from equilibrium to dynamic modelling. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to determine whether newcomers to a large urban area, could be of special assistance to the planner. In order to discover whether newcomers could be of special use in the planning process, it was necessary to determine if newcomers' opinions of the city differed from those of longterm residents. For if they did, then the planner might be able to derive from the newcomers fresh insight into the planning problems posed by his city. Hence three hypotheses were formulated: I. Newer residents' opinions regarding the quality of their neighbourhood's services and facilities vary significantly from those of longterm residents. II. Newer residents' community participation varies significantly from that of longterm residents. III. Newer residents' views on the quality of neighbourhood services and facilities and the extent of their community participation vary significantly according to the size and location of their former residence. These hypotheses were tested by means of a questionnaire orally administered to a random sample of 108 residents of the Kitsilano area of Vancouver. On the basis of the answers obtained, each of the hypotheses was submitted to the statistical scrutiny of multiple discriminant analysis, multiple regression analysis, and percentage comparisons. Newer residents were found to have different opinions from long-term residents on the quality of their neighbourhood's services and facilities and to participate less in community activities. Within the newcomer ranks former location was an important distinguishing variable. Thus all three hypotheses were substantiated by the results of this study as well as by some earlier research findings. Hence it was concluded that residence length differences alone, were significant enough to devise some way of consulting newcomers as one aid to the urban planning process. The planner can potentially make use of the newcomers' previous experience and unencumbered perceptions to gain fresh insight into the planning problems posed by his city. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Science in Development Planning degree in the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted for any other degree at any other university. / Researchers, in the past, have found that the development of satellite cities has reduced the strain upon the infrastructure of the parent cities. These developments have had negative side effects as well, with urban sprawl proving to not only be an infrastructural challenge, but an environmental problem as well. One of the major critiques that has been levelled against urban sprawl is that it contributes towards pollution by encouraging long commutes and traffic congestion. These negative effects have been factored into the decision-making processes of residents in these areas, as they usually own at least one car that allows them to commute freely between their homes and the metropolitan centre. However, their lifestyle changes also affect another demographic, namely the workers who service these areas. The impact that the distance from the metropolitan area has on their physical, emotional and economic wellbeing has yet to be fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of the research report was to investigate and unpack the experiences and working conditions of domestic workers in Waterfall Estate. This included a representation of the sociological profile of the domestic workers in terms of their class, gender and employment history as well as an understanding of the different ways that the workers access and utilize the same space. The report also shed some light on their experiences, working conditions, relationship with employers and responses to the challenges faced by these individuals, contributing towards contemporary literature regarding the evolution of domestic service in exclusionary communities. The effects of commuting from the periphery to the city affect all who dwell within Exclusionary Upscale Communities, both upper class residents and workers alike. In addition to the socio-economic impact, power dynamics between the employers and workers provide an additional layer of complexity to the workers experiences. The research utilized both qualitative interviews with 5 workers, as well as the distribution of 31 surveys to workers in the area to not only gain a deeper understanding of the forces at play but also to get a sense of what the collective worker experience was. It was found that the domestic workers were heavily reliant on transit nodes such as taxi ranks in order to commute to the estate. In addition to this most of the domestic workers were found to be paying the cost of diverted care resulting in strenuous relationships with their families, resulting in cases where other family members had to care for their children and a negative outlook on the profession and their fulfillment of their roles as mothers. / MT 2018

Serious resistance to urban growth in the Southwest arose at the beginning of the post World War II boom and persisted throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Most historians of the urban West ignore this early resistance. Even New Western historians truncate their studies of urbanization in the Southwest by assuming that serious opposition to development only appeared with the rise of environmentalism in the late 1960s. Urbanization in Tucson and Albuquerque proceeded in the face of constant protest. The expressions of opposition to urban expansion arose in conservative and libertarian political critiques and in ethnic resistance to urban renewal plans that targeted barrio areas. A loosely defined environmentalism appeared in these early forms of resistance as residents fought to preserve their lifestyle and native culture.

No description available.

This research employed two methodological approaches to testing an evolutionary hypothesis of city growth and residential status redistribution. The expectation was that among small metropolitan areas, residential status patterns should be evolving toward the patterns which have been observed among older, larger cities.In the first stage of analysis, evidence suggested that residential status patterns have evolved in a predictable direction for sixteen of twenty cities between 19110 and 1970. A graphic link between "colonial" and Burgess patterns of status distribution was also found.Using tract level analysis, the results of the second research stage suggested that a positive relationship between status and distance of a tract from the central business district exists within the center city area but that a negative relationship is predominant in the suburban ring area. These findings question the basic assumptions from which the evolutionary hypothesis has beengenerated.

Terrestrial Evolution focuses on the destruction of the natural environment by manmade obstructions such as housing developments, strip malls, roads, telephone lines, and utility poles. Each of the paintings address one or more of these aspects of development and communicates ideas of detachment from this seemingly endless process of building. Color, surface texture, composition, and visual imagery were all carefully thought out and planned parts of a complicated process for the communication of ideas on this particular subject matter.My hometown of Carmel, Indiana has been experiencing massive environmental change over the past ten years. Large housing editions and strip malls have been built to accommodate the influx of people moving to this northern suburb of Indianapolis. Land is being sold, bought, zoned, and covered with quickly built homes and strip malls. Once this suburban sprawl has begun, will it stop? How much of the environmental damage it has contributed is reversible?Terrestrial Evolution represents a very personal and visual response to the contemporary state of Carmel's woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife, which are being sacrificed for manmade development. / Department of Art

The purpose of this study is to develop an economic policy framework for local urban authorities to empower them to increase economic growth and development and thus quality of life of its residents. The study integrates conventional economic growth theories with the urban environment and shows their applicability within the urban environment. An urban area is perceived as an economic powerhouse within the national economy where the majority of economic activity is generated. The concentration of people and economic activity creates certain positive externalities that should be exploited by residents, businesses and local authorities. High levels of research and development as well as innovation is possible in urban areas and contribute to realize increased economic growth and development. Unfortunately, urban areas also experience negative externalities and this should be addressed because this leads to a decrease in economic efficiency and thus a decline in quality of life. The study thus introduces several options of urban economic policies for use by the local urban authorities. The main aim of these policies is to serve as a framework for local urban authorities to address the typical relevant urban problems in order to stimulate sustainable economic growth and development and quality of life. / Thesis (DCom (Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Economics / unrestricted

Throughout the world a greater proportion of the population are living in cities which are growing because of in-migration. Many accounts of the migrations and of migrants in cities have been written. While most accounts emphasize the alienation and disorganization of the migrant, there are a growing number of accounts which indicate that the migrant helps and is helped by his kin group. These latter accounts have been analyzed in an attempt to discover the significance of kinship in rural-urban migration. The literature relating to migration theory has been briefly reviewed. The theory of William Petersen was found most useful but the typology he proposed is too general to contribute much understanding to the problem of rural-urban migration. The two types of Petersen's theory into which the rural-urban migration fit have been expanded into four types or levels of rural-urban migration. Each of the four types is characterized by different control of land resources, participation in ceremonial life and recognition of kinship rights and obligations. These are assumed to be interdependent. Case studies are used to illustrate types. These cases confirm that while there is a considerable lessening in the range of economic obligations to kin, the size of the potential kin group does not shrink. While the potential kin circle is large, the member of the kin group in the city selects, on the basis of personal preference, those whom he considers effective kin. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate