Cross sectional evolution of the US city size distribution

Overman, Henry G. and Ioannides, Yannis (2000) Cross sectional evolution of the US city size distribution. CEPDP, 483. Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK. ISBN 0753014270

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Abstract

We report nonparametrically estimated stochastic transition kernels for the evolution of the distribution of US metropolitan area populations, for the period 1900 to 1990. These suggest a fair amount of uniformity in the patterns of mobility during the study period. The distribution of city sizes is predominantly character-sed by persistence. Additional kernel estimates do not reveal any stark differences in intra-region mobility patterns. We characterise the nature of intra-size distribution dynamics by means of measures that do not require discretisation of the city size distribution. We employ these measures to study the degree of mobility within the US city size distribution and, separately, within regional and urban subsystems. We find that different regions show different degrees of intra-distribution mobility. Second-tier cities show more mobility than top-tier cities.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://cep.lse.ac.uk
Additional Information:	© 2000 the authors
Library of Congress subject classification:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
Sets:	Collections > Economists Online Research centres and groups > Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) Departments > Geography and Environment
Identification Number:	483
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2008 17:45
URL:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/20137/

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