New derivations of the rank-size rule using entropy-maximising methods

The entropy-maximising methodology for variables which take discrete values is used to derive the rank-size rule and to give a new interpretation of the constants. Relationships are found between the real populations of the cities, the populations that are given by the models, and the rank of the cities. A new index that represents the degree of concentration of a country is introduced as well as a new measure for the deviation of one pair of cities from the rank-size rule. The model is applied to data for Greek cities.