What About the Bell-shaped Relationship Between Primacy and Development?

摘要: This paper proposes, estimates, and tests a “no-frills” static two-equation recursive model, where the size of largest city depends on level development in two-step relationship, with total urban population intervening as an intermediate variable. The model has following implications for primacy: (1) contrary to Richardson Schwartz's (1988) assertion, primacy is indeed related development, albeit indirectly, but (2) relationship does not display bell shape predicted by El-Shakhs-Mera hypothesis. Instead, function decreases monotonically at decreasing rate. Research assistance was provided Atib Salhi.