Temporal Change in a Central-Place System

J B Parr
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J B Parr: Department of Social and Economic Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RT, Scotland

Environment and Planning A, 1981, vol. 13, issue 1, 97-118

Abstract: A serious deficiency in the development of central-place theory has been the general lack of any systematic treatment of the question of temporal change. This deficiency has undoubtedly impaired the usefulness of central-place theory in the analysis of urban systems. In this paper three broad categories of temporal change in a central-place system are identified. One such category involves changes in the structure of the hierarchy. These consist of the formation of a new level of the hierarchy, the modification in the extent of a level, and the disappearance of a level. Existing central-place models prove inadequate for dealing with changes of this kind, and it becomes necessary to adopt a comparative-static approach which employs less restrictive models. Such an approach inevitably involves a degree of simplification, although it is able to take account of the fact that change takes place against a background of locational inertia, in which the locations of central places are fixed. This comparative-static approach may be helpful in the analysis of actual urban systems and their development through time.

Date: 1981
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:13:y:1981:i:1:p:97-118

DOI: 10.1068/a130097

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