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The Law of the Primate City

1939; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 29; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/209944

1931-0846

Mark Jefferson,

Art History and Market Analysis

M / 'ETROPOLITAN London is not merely the largest city in the world; it is more than seven times as large as Britain's second city, Liverpool,' and thereby stands out alone in a different order of magnitude and significance from those of all other cities in its country. The finest wares are always to be found there, the rarest articles, the greatest talents, the most skilled workers in every science and art. Thither flows an unending stream of the young and ambitious in search of fame and fortune, and there fame and fortune are found. London is the kingdom's market for all that is superlative in intellectual and material productions. Its supereminence as a market runs parallel to its supereminence in size. It is the primate city of the United Kingdom. In Denmark the less-than-a-million capital, Copenhagen, has won greater relative primacy. It is nine times as large as Denmark's second town.2 Why does the ambitious Dane go to Copenhagen? To attend the university, to study art or music, to write for the press, to attend the museum and the theater, to buy or sell if he has unusual wares or wants unusual wares. Because he keeps hearing and reading of men who live there, men whom he is keen to meet face to face. Perhaps he means to try his wits against them. Or his business capacity has outgrown his home city, and he hopes to find more opportunity in the capital, to make more money. Mexico City has a million inhabitants and is five times as large as the country's second city, Guadalajara.3 In Mexico, too, on the site of one of America's finest aboriginal cultures, in an environment utterly different from the environments of Europe, the primate city is a culmination of national life. Why is a Mexican from MazathIn now in Mexico City? Because he was discontented in every way with the narrow opportunities of the little town. If he was doing badly, he thought he could do better in the capital. If he was doing well, he learned that the field of opportunity is larger there. The most famous Mexicans of the day live there, and he wanted to see them, or he can buy better or sell better. Perhaps he will make his fortune there. That is a singular trio of great towns to have so much in common while they are so little alike. But only their differences are singular.