Application of the Grade of Membership model (GoM) to delineate an urban hierarchy in Brazilian Amazonia

Douglas Sathler, Fundação João Pinheiro (FJP/MG)
Roberto Monte-Mór, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Jose Alberto M. de Carvalho, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Carla J. Machado, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Alfredo Costa, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

The present study aims to contribute to a better comprehension of the urban hierarchy and to the relationship between the cities of the Amazon. For this task, the application of the Grade of Membership (GoM) is suggested, due to its usefulness in delineating profiles and in identifying city groups with similar characteristics. Moreover, this model permits describing the differences between these city groups. The study shows four profiles with distinct socioeconomical, demographical and functional aspects in the infrastructure and access to goods indicators. The results of the model determine that the spatial differences between the townships that are highly associated with one of the four profiles are clear. This study reveals that understanding the hierarchy organization of the cities in the Amazon is an interesting exercise for the comprehension of the regional urban net dynamics. In that sense, the need for policies that establish more structured urban nets in the Amazon seems evident.