Medium size cities

Abstract This paper investigates the role of medium size cities in economies, drawing on the experiences of Brazil, Japan, Korea, the USA and other countries. The paper argues that city size distributions are stable over time and that medium size cities are highly specialized, particularly in manufacturing activities, compared to metro areas. The relationship between medium size cities and metro areas is explored, examining issues of industrial suburbanization, the product cycle, edge city formation, and the advent of information technologies.