Question

The law of Primate City was first proposed by

• A. Samuel A. Stouffer.
• B. Colin Clark.
• C. Mark Jefferson.
• D. Harold Hotelling.

Hint:

Mark Jefferson's law of Primate City describes the disproportionate dominance of the largest city in terms of size and influence in many countries.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The law of Primate City was first proposed by Mark Jefferson in 1939. According to this law, the largest city in a country (the primate city) is more than twice the size of the next largest city. This phenomenon often occurs in countries where urbanization is highly centralized, and one city dominates economically, politically, and culturally over the others. Jefferson's work analyzed urban hierarchies and emphasized the disproportionate growth of the capital or largest city in many countries.

Step 1: Understanding the Law of Primate City.
Jefferson's theory provides insights into the urban structure of a country. A primate city, according to this law, not only dominates in terms of population but also often holds significant political and economic power. Countries with primate cities tend to have a high degree of urban concentration, where the largest city serves as the central hub for the nation.

Step 2: Clarifying the options.
- (A) Samuel A. Stouffer: Known for his work on urban social structure and the interaction between cities, but not for the law of Primate City. - (B) Colin Clark: Economist known for his theories on economic development but did not propose the Primate City law. - (D) Harold Hotelling: Economist known for his work in economics, specifically on spatial competition, not urban theory. Thus, the correct answer is (C) Mark Jefferson, who first proposed the law of Primate City.

Final Answer: (C)