Urban growth and the emergent statistics of cities.

ABSTRACT: Urban theory models cities as spatial equilibria to derive their aggregate properties as functions of extensive variables, such as population size. However, this assumption seems at odds with cities' most interesting properties as engines of fast and variable processes of growth and change. Here, we build a general statistical dynamics of cities across scales, from single agents to entire urban systems. We include agents' strategic behavior to produce predictable growth rates, which requires balancing relative incomes and costs over time. We implement these dynamics using stochastic differential equations and control theory to demonstrate a number of general emergent properties of cities deriving from limit theorems applied to growth rates. This framework establishes necessary conditions f

SUBMITTER: Bettencourt LMA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7438098 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature