[Regional differences in urbanization]

"Relying on population data of Hungary's town network, the authors review temporal and regional differences in urbanization. They trace back the data of 109 towns...[from] 1985 to the first official census of population, then they analyse by means of rank correlation the lags appearing in the concentration rate of urban population.... The authors think that urbanization of small towns might be the key element in the spatial and structural extension of urbanization. In the authors' opinion the lasting regional differences of urbanization determine also the centres of gravity of future development." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND RUS)

Population density functions: a differential equation approach

"This paper introduces a new mathematical technique to describe population density functions. Two length scales, which characterize the variation of these density functions within a region, are identified. A differential equation is derived and asymptotic solutions obtained. Two specific techniques, the method of matched asymptotic expansions and the method of multiple scales, are introduced and illustrated by application to population densities at both the metropolitan and regional levels."

Population growth of small towns in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

The rapid population growth of small towns in Libya is examined, and future prospects are considered. "Their growth can be attributed to natural increase, internal migration and the influx of foreigners, all of which factors have been stimulated by the State. The paper provides detailed data on the growth and development of small towns and the changes occurring in the overall distribution and density of the Libyan population. The reasons behind the growth and sometimes the demise of individual towns are examined."

On the move: migration, urbanization and development in Papua New Guinea

"Migration and urbanization data from Papua New Guinea's first truly national census in 1980 are considered against a backdrop of spatial and social inequalities. Source and destination factors affecting migration flows and destinations are found to relate to population density, availability of rural wages, ease of access, destination wage-earning opportunities, historical linkages and present day developments. Short-distance migration differs from longer-distance migration; many migrants are short-term, and possibly circular, migrants. Migration and urbanization are considered part of the same process of developmental change." A section is included on earlier censuses and surveys, data reliability, and related problems.

Evaluating the aggregate spatial structure of Canadian metropolitan areas

"Few attempts have been made to develop and test a conceptual framework for the comparative analysis of urban spatial structure and growth. This paper offers one aggregate approach as well as a series of empirical tests based on Canada's 27 largest urban areas. Six composite indices are introduced: population densities, rates of change, intraurban population redistribution, mobility rates, incidence of low-income populations, and degree of social polarization. Regression analyses reveal that differences among urban areas in spatial patterning and structural change are consistent with the hypothesized effects of city size, age, transport usage, social heterogeneity, production base, and physical setting. Yet immense regional and intraurban diversity remains. No single model of urban structure is sufficient to capture this diversity." (SUMMARY IN FRE)

Impact of population density on immunization programmes

The eradication of smallpox was achieved by surveillance and containment vaccination after the failure of mass immunization campaigns. The reasons for this failure are considered in this paper. Comparison of population densities in the Indian subcontinent and Africa show that in highly populated areas even an 80% vaccine coverage will still leave a density of susceptibles high enough to maintain the disease, a finding with important implications for other vaccine campaigns.

Population redistribution towards core areas of less developed countries, 1950-1980

"This paper presents estimates of the rate of population redistribution to the core areas of 44 developing countries over the period 1950-80. Particular attention is given to the period 1970-80, a time during which the core areas of developed countries experienced substantial declines in their rates of net inmigration. The principal finding is that the core areas of most developing countries are still experiencing high and, in a number of cases, increasing rates of net inmigration." The author contends that "this finding confirms the developmental model of spatial concentration and dispersal and should lay to rest other explanations of deconcentration, including arguments that focus on diseconomies of absolute size in the core area or on fluctuations in the aggregate economy." The difference between the population growth rates of entire nations and of core areas is used as a measure of interregional migration. Data for the 44 countries and information on the data sources are included in appendixes.