Catastrophe Theory and Bifurcation (Routledge Revivals)

<p>Mathematical models have long been used by geographers and regional scientists to explore the working of urban and regional systems via a system where the equilibrium point changes slowly and smoothly as the parameters change slowly and smoothly. However this all changed with the advent of catastrophe theory and bifurcation which enabled the development of models where a quite sudden change in the position of the equilibrium point results from a slow small smooth change in one or more parameters.</p><p>First published in 1981 this reissue of Professor Wilson’s classic study outlines the implications of these mathematical models for geography and regional science by way of a survey of contemporary applications. </p>