Defining and Measuring Metropolitan Regions

This note assesses the range of options considered by GLA Economics for defining a geographic boundary for London that will permit robust comparisons with other cities for economic purposes. Based on the GEMACA method of defining a Functional Urban Area, it concludes that the best estimate of the population of London using mid-year and LFS-based estimates from 2005 and 2006 respectively, based on a core density of 1813 per square mile, using NUTS4 regions and a commute intensity of 10%, is 12,660,000 and of the workforce, 6,304,000, corresponding to a geographical extent of 4,104 square miles. The paper was originally published, and should be cited, as Freeman, A. 2007. Defining and Measuring Metropolitan Regions. GLA current issues note 17. London: GLA.