Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Statistical and Historical Analyses of Nations Which Deviate From the Size-Density Law

  • Articles
  • Published:
Demography

Abstract

We examine nations which deviate significantly from the −2/3 sizedensity slope previously observed for the aggregated political subdivisions of 98 modern nations and previously derived from the theory of timeminimization. We correct Stephan’s original list of deviant nations, demonstrate that all slopes more negative than −2/3 were due to the erroneous inclusion of cities in the original data sets, develop a theory to account for the less negative deviant slopes, and test the theory both through statistical manipulation of current data and through analysis of available historical data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bogue, Donald J. 1969. Principles of Demography. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breunig, Charles. 1970. The Age of Revolution and Reaction: 1789–1850. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, E. L. 1959. Testing Statistical Hypotheses. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massey, Douglas S., and G. Edward Stephan. 1977. The Size-Density Hypothesis in Great Britain: Analysis of a Deviant Case. Demography 14:351–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massey, Douglas S., Lucky M. Tedrow, and G. Edward Stephan. 1980. Regional Population Density and County Size: A Note on the Problem of Tautology in Size-Density Relationships. Geographical Analysis 12:184–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, B. R. 1975. European Historical Statistics. New York: Columbia University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, Moshe Y. (ed.). 1976. Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (4 vols.). New York: World mark.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephan, G. Edward. 1971. Variation in County Size: A Theory of Segmental Growth. American Sociological Review 36:451–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1972. International Tests of the Size Density Hypothesis. American Sociological Review 37:365–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1977. Territorial Division: The Least Time Constraint Behind the Formation of Subnational Boundaries. Science 196:523–524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1979. Derivation of Some Social-Demographic Regularities from the Theory of Time Minimization. Social Forces 53:812–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephan, G. Edward, and Douglas R. McMullin. 1981. The Historical Distribution of County Seats in the United States: A Review, Critique and Test of Time-Minimization Theory. American Sociological Review 46:907–917.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, 98225, Bellingham, Washington

    G. Edward Stephan

  2. Investment Division, People’s Bank of Washington, 98111, Seattle, Washington

    Douglas R. McMullin

  3. Demographic Research Laboratory, Western Washington University, 98225, Bellingham, Washington

    Karen H. Stephan

Authors
  1. G. Edward Stephan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Douglas R. McMullin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karen H. Stephan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stephan, G.E., McMullin, D.R. & Stephan, K.H. Statistical and Historical Analyses of Nations Which Deviate From the Size-Density Law. Demography 19, 567–576 (1982). https://doi.org/10.2307/2061019

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2061019

Keywords

Search

Navigation