5. Primate City and Rank-Size Rule,

Case Study 1: Primate City – Mexico City, Mexico

Theories and Perspectives Applied to Primate Cities:

• Primate City Theory (Jefferson, 1939) – A dominant city significantly larger than others in a country.
• Core-Periphery Theory (Wallerstein, 1974) – Economic disparities shape urban hierarchy.
• Dependency Theory (Frank, 1967) – Developing regions depend on global economic structures.
• Urban Morphology Theory (Moudon, 1997) – Studies the physical structure of cities.

Models/Theories/Laws Applied:

• Urban Hierarchy Model – Examines the ranking of cities based on population and function.
• Economic Specialization Framework – Evaluates the role of cities in trade and industry.
• Systems Analysis Approach – Assesses urban dominance through multiple indicators.

Recent Data:

• Mexico City: Population of over 21 million, five times larger than Guadalajara.
• Economic Impact: Mexico City contributes over 17% of the country’s GDP.
• Infrastructure Challenges: Traffic congestion, housing shortages, and environmental degradation.

Spatial Variation:

• City Center: High-density commercial zones due to economic dominance.
• Peripheral Areas: Moderate urban expansion with informal settlements.

Temporal Variation:

• Historical Trends: Mexico City’s primacy evolving since colonial era.
• Future Projections: Expected rise in decentralization policies.

Source:

• Urban Morphology: Concepts of Primate City and Rank-Size Rule

Insight:

Mexico City’s urban dominance validates Primate City Theory, emphasizing its disproportionate influence on national development.

Case Study 2: Rank-Size Rule – Urban Hierarchy in Algeria

Theories and Perspectives Applied to Rank-Size Rule:

• Rank-Size Rule (Zipf, 1949) – Settlement sizes follow a hierarchical distribution.
• Core-Periphery Theory (Wallerstein, 1974) – Economic disparities shape urban hierarchy.
• Urban Morphology Theory (Moudon, 1997) – Studies the physical structure of cities.
• Bid-Rent Theory (Alonso, 1964) – Explains land value variations based on accessibility.

Models/Theories/Laws Applied:

• Urban Hierarchy Model – Examines the ranking of cities based on population and function.
• Economic Specialization Framework – Evaluates the role of cities in trade and industry.
• Systems Analysis Approach – Assesses urban hierarchy through multiple indicators.

Recent Data:

• Batna Province, Algeria: Urban network exhibits macrocephaly, with one dominant city.
• Population Growth: Batna’s population increased from 151,025 in 1966 to 1.5 million in 2023.
• Urban Balance Issues: Smaller towns deviating from Zipf’s ideal rank-size curve.

Spatial Variation:

• Major Cities: High economic influence and population density.
• Smaller Towns: Moderate growth with emerging industries.

Temporal Variation:

• Historical Trends: Urban hierarchy evolving since 1960s.
• Future Projections: Expected rise in regional integration policies.

Source:

• Examining Urban Hierarchy in Batna Using Zipf’s Rank-Size Rule

Insight:

Batna’s urban hierarchy validates Rank-Size Rule, emphasizing the need for balanced urban development.