A New Model for Urban Scaling

Sam Arbesman:

While this model does not explain regional aspects of cities or the disparities within an urban environment, as Bettencourt notes—it is ultimately about the city as a whole—it is a powerful means of understanding how cities, and the people within them, operate. Ultimately, cities are an instantiation of the optimal configuration for social interactions, and this is a great quantitative exploration of how they work.

Thanks to the support of readers like you, Per Square Mile remains independent and ad-free.

If you enjoy what you read, please consider supporting the site with a donation.


opening times