Gravity Models of Spatial Interaction Behavior

Gravity models describe, and hence help predict, spatial flows of commuters, air-travelers, migrants, commodities and even messages. They are one of the oldest and most widely used of all social science models. This book presents an up-to-date, consistent and unified approach to the theory, methods and application of the gravity model - which spans from the axiomatic foundations of such models all the way to practical hints for their use. "I have found no better general method for use in applied research dealing with spatial interaction... It is against this background that the present book by Sen and Smith is most welcomed." Walter Isard

Zusammenfassung
"In summary, by anyones definition, this is a magnum opus and the authors are to be congratulated on their work. The book is extremely well-written and well-proofed; ... It provides a very strong theoretical framework in which to view the diverse family of spatial interaction models and it yields some interesting and useful insights into the calibration of such models." Journal of Regional Science

Inhalt
I Theoretical Development.- 1 Spatial Interaction Processes: An Overview.- 2 Gravity Models: An Overview.- 3 Spatial Interaction Processes: Formal Development.- 4 Gravity Models: Formal Development.- II Methods.- 5 Maximum Likelihood.- 6 Least Squares.- Appendix: Skokie Data.- References.- List of Principal Definitions and Results.- Author Index.