The city as a giant component: a random graph approach to Zipf's law
The emergence of a 'city' out of a set of locations in space can be considered akin to the evolution of a random graph. Interaction between individuals who are connected to each other is at the source of the benefits associated with a city. If the interaction probability rises, a threshold is eventually crossed at which point most of the graph becomes connected, giving rise to a grand component. It is at this point that a viable 'city' emerges. This view suggests an interpretation of Zipf's law, which we test using US Census data.
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: Department of Economics, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA, Email: [email protected]
Publication date: 15 September 2003
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