1. What does it mean when we say that "a city is the home of specialists?"

2. How does the Census Bureau define a MSA?

3. Why do economists view cities on a basis of their population density?

4. What assumptions are made by central place theory that explains the development of a system of cities?

5. What three economic forces explain the market area (hinterland) for a given central place activity?

6. Explain what is meant by the hierarchy of cities?

7. How does demand density affect the achievement of economies of scale?

8. What is meant by the minimum threshold demand for a given economic activity?

9. Discuss how the following forces influence the market areas of a system of cities:

(a) An increase in demand density enabling one central place to achieve economies of scale that is not attainable by its competitors?

(b) A change in technology that lowers production cost at one central place but not at others?

(c) A new expressway that lowers the transport cost of one central place but not at others?

(d) Agglomeration economies achieved at one central place but not at others?

10. What makes up a regions economic base? What are non-basic activities? How do non basic activities change with import substitution?

11. Give an example of a supply side agglomeration economy? a demand side agglomeration economy?

12. Why were the first US cities commercial rather than manufacturing based cities?

13. How did changes in construction methods and materials affect the growth and form of US cities after the industrial revolution?

14. Discuss the importance of long-haul transportation innovations (the railroad) on the efficient size of US cities.

15. Trace the impact of urban transportation methods from walking to the automobile on the form and size of US cities.