A Universal Rank-Size Law.
A mere hyperbolic law, like the Zipf's law power function, is often inadequate to describe rank-size relationships. An alternative theoretical distribution is proposed based on theoretical physics arguments starting from the Yule-Simon distribution. A modeling is proposed leading to a universal form. A theoretical suggestion for the "best (or optimal) distribution", is provided through an entropy argument. The ranking of areas through the number of cities in various countries and some sport competition ranking serves for the present illustrations.
School of Business, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom.|GRAPES - Group of Researchers for Applications of Physics in Economy and Sociology, Rue de la Belle Jardiniere 483, B-4031, Angleur, Belgium.
Marcel
M
Ausloos
University of Macerata, Department of Economics and Law, Via Crescimbeni 20, I-62100, Macerata, Italy.
Roy
R
Cerqueti
D019277:Entropy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010825:Physics