A note on the size distribution of cities over time.

"The Pareto Law of Income Distribution is applied to the analysis of city size structures. Particular concern is focused on the Pareto coefficient as a measure of interurban concentration, and on how this varies through time within a nation. On the basis of evidence from 12 nations, it is argued that over time a nation tends to display a U-shaped pattern in the degree of interurban concentration, and that the higher a nation's overall level of development, the more advanced it will be in the sequence of concentration. Consideration is given to the possibility of supporting these conclusions through cross-sectional analysis among nations. The various bases for the proposed temporal pattern of concentration within a nation are then explored." excerpt