THE CITY AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM: THE EFFECT OF SIZE, PRODUCTIVE OUTPUT, COMPLEXITY, LEVEL OF ENERGY AND GROWTH ON SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND REGULATION

The present research was an analysis of cities as social systems, using data for the 148 SMSA's of 200,000 or larger population in 1970. It examines the relationship among variables representative of several theoretical concepts, which are system size, productive output, complexity, growth, level of energy and system investment in regulatory and maintenance functions. Variables representing the first five concepts were considered independent variables: city size, functional specialization, occupational and racial diversity, population growth and median income. Variables representing the last two concepts were considered dependent variables: city expenditures on such regulatory functions as fire and police protection, and such maintenance functions as education, welfare and health.