Sociology

Convergence in world urbanization?: A Quantitative Assessment

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Cross-national data are used to explore the question of whether world urban patterns and processes are converging or diverging. We compare tabular data on overall percent urban, urban primacy, overurbanization, and urban bias across world-system strata and global regions. The evidence suggests continuing differences and little evidence for convergence. To determine whether world-system effects have causal efficacy, we conclude with a regression analysis. These results provide strong evidence for a world-system explanation of continuing differences in overall level of urbanization and urban primacy, and a developmentalist approach seems to explain persisting divergence in levels of urban bias. © 1990, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Urban Affairs Review

Publication Date

1-1990

Volume

25

Issue

4

First Page

574

Last Page

590

ISSN

1078-0874

DOI

10.1177/004208169002500404

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