Hierarchy with Rank-Size and Primate City Rules
There are different sizes of market areas and they are dependent on two things: type of service and type of settlement.
Type of Service: The market area of a service can vary depending on the type of service. When comparing two businesses of like product such as a convenience store and a large supermarket. There are more numerous convenience stores simply because their market area is much smaller. This can be determined by what the store carries and if it has gasoline for purchase. Because it is smaller, it has less variety from which the consumer may choose. Compared to a large supermarket, there will be fewer stores, but the market area will be much larger. This is because it has more variety, better prices, and may also include clothing and gasoline. When opening a business in an optimal location, the owner must understand the market area of the business and what other competition may be around.
Type of Settlement: Although it seems obvious, it does need to be stated that the larger a settlement, the more numerous and varied services it can provide. A business in a tiny village would have a small market area as it would cater to more local tastes. In larger settlements, the market area is large due to a larger population but also the population from the smaller settlements who cannot meet all of their needs from their village.
Many settlements are clearly measured by size, and ranked accordingly, and thus follow certain definitions held by human geographers. This can be by world, within the country, or within specific states or provinces.
Rank-Size Distribution: this states that within a country, the largest settlement is a proportional to the population of its host country. Mathematically, it follows as: n as the largest settlement population is 1/n the population of the largest settlement. For example, in the US, New York City is roughly 8.2 million people. The second largest is Los Angeles, therefore, Los Angeles 2nd would be n = 2. Thus, LA would be 1/2 (1/n) the size of NYC. Los Angeles' population by this rule would be 4.1 million. In reality, the population is roughly 3.8 million so follows very closely to the mathematical formula. Chicago is the third largest, there n = 3. Chicago's population should be 1/3 of NYC's population. By the rank-size rule, Chicago should have a population of 2.7 million. In actuality, it does have 2.7 million people. Most countries follow this type of linear graph.
Primate City Rule: if the rank-size rule does not apply to a country, it may follow the primate city rule. A primate city is the country's largest city and the rule states that the second largest city will have half or less than half the largest settlement's population. The United Kingdom is a prime example where London has roughly 7 million people while the second largest city, Birmingham, only has roughly 1 million.
This is important because a rank-size rule that applies to a country (specifically an MDC) could mean a more economically wealthy system that could show the distribution of services with stronger market areas across the country.
Type of Service: The market area of a service can vary depending on the type of service. When comparing two businesses of like product such as a convenience store and a large supermarket. There are more numerous convenience stores simply because their market area is much smaller. This can be determined by what the store carries and if it has gasoline for purchase. Because it is smaller, it has less variety from which the consumer may choose. Compared to a large supermarket, there will be fewer stores, but the market area will be much larger. This is because it has more variety, better prices, and may also include clothing and gasoline. When opening a business in an optimal location, the owner must understand the market area of the business and what other competition may be around.
Type of Settlement: Although it seems obvious, it does need to be stated that the larger a settlement, the more numerous and varied services it can provide. A business in a tiny village would have a small market area as it would cater to more local tastes. In larger settlements, the market area is large due to a larger population but also the population from the smaller settlements who cannot meet all of their needs from their village.
Many settlements are clearly measured by size, and ranked accordingly, and thus follow certain definitions held by human geographers. This can be by world, within the country, or within specific states or provinces.
Rank-Size Distribution: this states that within a country, the largest settlement is a proportional to the population of its host country. Mathematically, it follows as: n as the largest settlement population is 1/n the population of the largest settlement. For example, in the US, New York City is roughly 8.2 million people. The second largest is Los Angeles, therefore, Los Angeles 2nd would be n = 2. Thus, LA would be 1/2 (1/n) the size of NYC. Los Angeles' population by this rule would be 4.1 million. In reality, the population is roughly 3.8 million so follows very closely to the mathematical formula. Chicago is the third largest, there n = 3. Chicago's population should be 1/3 of NYC's population. By the rank-size rule, Chicago should have a population of 2.7 million. In actuality, it does have 2.7 million people. Most countries follow this type of linear graph.
Primate City Rule: if the rank-size rule does not apply to a country, it may follow the primate city rule. A primate city is the country's largest city and the rule states that the second largest city will have half or less than half the largest settlement's population. The United Kingdom is a prime example where London has roughly 7 million people while the second largest city, Birmingham, only has roughly 1 million.
This is important because a rank-size rule that applies to a country (specifically an MDC) could mean a more economically wealthy system that could show the distribution of services with stronger market areas across the country.
|
Related Links: Services in Current Rural Settlements AP Human Geography Quizzes AP Human Geography Notes |