Abstract
Primacy, the concentration of population in a few large urban centers within a nation, is characteristic of developing countries and is related to a high rate of population growth and an uncontrolled migration to the largest cities. Friedman's Theory of Spatial Transformation argues that primacy is an evolutionary process; Friedman contends it is highest in midrange developed countries. An investigation of the two principal causes of primacy--population growth and migration--and the development of two indices to measure primacy and development provides a basis for comparison. This examination leads to some recommendations for potential policy makers. A development index as a component of nine socio-economic variables was produced from a taxonomic method. El-Shakhs' method was chosen for determining the primacy index. This study had greater access to more reliable data than was the situation in earlier studies on primacy in nations. In a series of cross-sectional analyses, the relation between the two indices was established, confirming Friedman's theory. For Asian, African, and Latin American countries, the association appeared stronger; since it was more significant in the lesser developed countries, these countries were used for further analysis. ...
Navid, Iraj (1981). Primacy and national urban planning strategy in developing countries. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -647465.