Rank-size Distributions of Chinese Cities: Macro and Micro Patterns

A large number of studies have been conducted to find a better fit for city rank-size distributions in different countries. Many theoretical curves have been proposed, but no consensus has been reached. This study argues for the importance of examining city rank-size distribution across different city size scales. In addition to focusing on macro patterns, this study examines the micro patterns of city rank-size distributions in China. A moving window method is developed to detect rank-size distributions of cities in different sizes incrementally. The results show that micro patterns of the actual city rank-size distributions in China are much more complex than those suggested by the three theoretical distributions examined(Pareto, quadratic, and q-exponential distributions). City size distributions present persistent discontinuities. Large cities are more evenly distributed than small cities and than that predicted by Zipf′s law. In addition, the trend is becoming more pronounced over time. Medium-sized cities became evenly distributed first and then unevenly distributed thereafter. The rank-size distributions of small cities are relatively consistent. While the three theoretical distributions examined in this study all have the ability to detect the overall dynamics of city rank-size distributions, the actual macro distribution may be composed of a combination of the three theoretical distributions.

The Application of Pareto's 80/20 Rule to Law: A Quantitative Analysis Based upon Trials Involving a Plea of Guilty

In the field of law, particularly in the area of legal proceedings and other types of dispute settlement, judicial organs can achieve the best allocation of judicial resources by summary handling of the simple cases, which are in the majority, and optimizing the complex ones, which are in the minority. Summary handling of the simple majority means reducing the marginal cost of judicial activities in accord with the principle of simplifying procedures but not rights while improving judicial effectiveness and promoting judicial justice in a way predicated on protecting the fundamental rights of legal actors. According to quantitative analysis based on trials in which the defendant entered a plea of guilty, there is still plenty of room to optimize the resource allocation mechanism in the field of criminal justice. Implementing the summary procedure confirmed in the 2012 Criminal Procedure Law requires that the judicial organs guarantee defendants who have pleaded guilty the right to a lawyer. It also requires the improvement of judicial efficiency at the stages of investigation, bringing a case, and trial. Only by doing so can we scientifically allocate criminal justice resources overall and effectively promote judicial justice.