Investigating the effect of clustering of the urban field on sustainable population growth of centrally located and peripheral towns.

In a previous study (Portnov and Erell, 1998a) an Index of Clustering (IC) was defined, which allowed an analysis of the combined effect of spatial isolation and remoteness of peripheral towns on the long-term patterns of their population growth. In the present paper, the analysis of the effect of clustering of the urban field on the patterns of population growth is extended to centrally located urban places, and the validity of this index is tested in two unevenly populated countries - Israel and Norway... A strategy of redirecting priorities leading to the formation of urban clusters is proposed, which may enhance the potential of urban growth in geographical areas where this is desirable. (from Author's abstract)