SOME GENERALIZATIONS CONCERNING PRIMATE CITIES¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT Six hypotheses are formulated and tested on the conditions under which primate cities occur. Using worldwide data, it was found that high urban primacy occurs most frequently in countries with small areal extent of dense population, low per capita income, export-oriented and agricultural economies, a colonial history, and rapid rates of population growth. Notes 1 A revised version of a paper read at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, Sacramento, California, April, 1962. I wish to thank Roy I. Wolfe, Ontario Department of Highways, and Calvin F. Schmid and Joseph Cohen of the University of Washington for their valuable advice on an earlier form of the manuscript.