Explanation of the variation of the city size distribution among transition countries

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to explain the determinants of the variation of city size distribution in time and across CEE and CIS transition economies (namely Belarus, Hungary, Poland and Russia) in 1970-2007. We use a unified database for CEE and CIS countries concerning city dynamics. In order to explain the differences in the city distributions and obtain valid statistical inference, we estimate, using cross-section dependence robust standard errors, a panel data fixed effects model to control for unobserved country specific determinants.