Economic Diversification and Group Stability in an Urban System: The Case of Canada, 1951-86

Abstract

Researchers have shown relatively little recent interest in the study of the economic diversification and classification of urban systems. If we are to understand contemporary urban structures, older studies must be brought up to date. This study of the economic character of towns greater than 30 000 in Canada demonstrates the degree of diversification of the centres between 1951 and 1986 and provides a succinct classification of the centres. The expected decrease in the general level of diversification between the two dates is complemented by the finding that differences in this single summary measure between the regions of Canada can no longer be found. Cluster analysis procedures are used to derive seven groups of places in 1986, which are very similar to the categories found in 1951, even though there has been a transformation in the size and economy of the places. This relative stability in the categories of places is parallelled by similarities in the membership of the groups. However, at the most fundamental level the urban system can be still be separated into service as opposed to production centres, a rather surprising dichotomy in view of the changes in urban economies.