CASA Working Paper 141

Phase transitions in urban evolution

Phase transitions in statistical mechanics are compared with discrete changes in the evolution of cities and regions. It is argued that these changes do have the character of phase transitions. The range of such transitions in urban and regional evolution is explored. The corresponding mechanisms in urban and regional models are then investigated. The significance of the existence of phase transitions for the planning cities and regions is then considered.

This working paper is available as a PDF. The file size is 999KB.

Authors: Alan Wilson

Publication Date: 1/7/2008

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