The economic base of a city—the functions it performs—is divided between basic and nonbasic (or service) activities. Through a multiplier effect, adding basic workers increases both the number of...

The economic base of a city—the functions it performs—is divided between basic and nonbasic (or service) activities. Through a multiplier effect, adding basic workers increases both the number of service workers and the total population of a city. The amount of growth reflects the base ratio characteristic of the city. Cities may be hierarchically ranked by their size and functional complexity. Rank-size, primate, and central place hierarchies are commonly cited but distinctly different.