The Size Distribution across all "Cities": A Unifying Approach

Kristian Giesen and Jens Suedekum

No 3730, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: In this paper we show that the double Pareto lognormal (DPLN) parameterization provides an excellent fit to the overall US city size distribution, regardless of whether “cities” are administratively defined Census places or economically defined area clusters. We then consider an economic model that combines scale-independent urban growth (Gibrat’s law) with endogenous city creation. City sizes converge to a DPLN distribution in this model, which is much better in line with the data than previous urban growth frameworks that predict a lognormal or a Pareto city size distribution (Zipf’s law).

Keywords: Zipf's law; Gibrat's law; city size distributions; double Pareto-Lognormal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O40 R11 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Size Distribution Across All 'Cities': A Unifying Approach (2012)
Working Paper: The size distribution across all "Cities": a unifying approach (2012)
Working Paper: The size distribution across all “cities”: a unifying approach (2012)
Working Paper: The Size Distribution Across All “Cities”: A Unifying Approach (2012)
Working Paper: The size distribution across all 'cities': A unifying approach (2012)
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