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
Repository Citation
Smith, David A. and London, Bruce, "Convergence in world urbanization?: A Quantitative Assessment" (1990). Sociology. 88.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_sociology/88