The rise and fall of cities

This paper analyses the population dynamics of cities in different countries during the period 1800-2000. It documents three novel empirical facts that characterise this process. First, in all countries, the ratio of the population of initially larger cities to the total national population increases at the beginning of the period analysed and, after reaching a peak, declines steadily. Second, in each decade, the cross-section of city growth rates is asymmetric to the right in most countries. Finally, the rank of the fastest growing city tends to increase over time.

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