An Examination of the Equivalence of Three Alternative Mechanisms for Establishing the Equilibrium Solutions of the Production-Constrained Spatial Interaction Model

Abstract

In this paper, three methods for determining the equilibrium points of the production-constrained spatial interaction model are reviewed; these are a balancing mechanism, differential topology, and entropy maximization. Harris and Wilson's examination of the equivalence of the three methods is summarized, and then the conditions under which equivalence can break down are established. A comparison of the results obtained from an application of each method to an often-used two-zone example is also presented.