Negative Exponential Model Parameters and Centralization in Large Urban Areas in the U.S., 1950-2010

Abstract

The change in the negative exponential density gradient has often been used as a measure of urban decentralization, with the gradient itself also being taken as a measure of the degree of centralization for comparing urban areas. Changes and levels of estimated negative exponential model parameters for 43 areas from 1950 to 2010 are compared with a “pure” measure of centralization, the centralization ratio. The proportional change in the density gradient is indeed significantly related to the change in the centralization ratio, while the relationship of the change in central density to centralization is inconsistent. However, the level of the density gradient is not significantly related to the level of centralization, except that controlling for the size of the urban area produces a significant relationship. The central density is related to the level of centralization.