In the context of central place theory, this study develops a hierarchical city-size distribution model and clarifies underlying mechanisms whereby two systematic forces of economic maturity and the population multiplier factor lead to different types of city-size distributions. / For this purpose, this study re-examines the structure of multi-industry equilibrium in the Loschian location model for two equilibrium market shapes: hexagons and squares. Under the assumptions of linear demand and cost functions and assuming relocation costs and sequential entry, it is demonstrated that multi-industry equilibrium can result in densest packing equilibrium configuration as well as non-densest packing equilibrium configuration. / Based on the analysis of multi-industry equilibrium, this study develops a hierarchical city-size distribution model and demonstrates that the square densest packing central place system approximates the rank-size distribution, if the population multiplier factor is very small. Also, it is shown that the non-densest packing central place system and a high value of the population multiplier factor give rise to the primate distribution. / An empirical test is conducted for 122 sample countries which include developed as well as developing countries. The empirical test for the hypotheses indicates robust results against alternative functional specifications and employment of other control variables, when economic maturity and the population multiplier factor co-exist in the regression model. / These findings lead to welfare arguments that the rank-size distribution may be an optimal city-size distribution, while the primate-distribution may be sub-optimal or optimal city-size distributions depending upon the two parameter values. / The analysis provides important policy implications that the rank-size distribution can be an organization principle of city systems planning, when the population multiplier factor of the countries is very small. Meanwhile, it is argued that attempts to develop urbanization policies based on the rank-size rule for the countries with a high value of the population multiplier factor may misallocate resources. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-07, Section: A, page: 2762. / Major Professor: Peter L. Doan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76964 |
| Contributors | Chun, Kyung Ku., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 244 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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