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The Distance-Decay Gravity Model Debate

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Book cover Spatial Statistics and Models

Part of the book series: Theory and Decision Library ((TDLU,volume 40))

Abstract

The gravity model has been by far the most popular mathematical description of human spatial interaction. The purpose of this paper is not to review its usage in general (Carrothers, 1956; Tocalis, 1978), but only to discuss one statistical question; the difficulties associated with accurately estimating the tendency of trips to decrease as distance increases by use of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models applied to observed data. This introductory section will outline the nature of the problem and of the debate that has developed in the last ten years.

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© 1984 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Sheppard, E.S. (1984). The Distance-Decay Gravity Model Debate. In: Gaile, G.L., Willmott, C.J. (eds) Spatial Statistics and Models. Theory and Decision Library, vol 40. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3048-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3048-8_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8385-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-3048-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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