exploratory spatial data analysis

Purpose. We discuss the theoretical principles of the Zipf law for the distribution of cities. Empirical results. The results of the econometric analysis of the empirical Zipf's law on Russian census data for 1897 and 2010. As well as the results of the econometric analysis of the Zipf law separately for medium and large towns and cities and industrial communities with populations of less than 45,000 people. Results. Explores the idea of the Zipf law through the implementation of the law Gibrat. Analyzes the logarithms of the growth of urban growth of cities in Russia. The hypothesis tested in accordance with the rate of urban growth in their territorial connection. Ranked Moran's spatial autocorrelation coefficient on the growth rate of any city in Russia. Calculate the spatial autoregression Moran for twenty large Russian cities. In addition, to visualize the results of research are constructed spatial Moran scatterplot of the logarithms growth rates of Russian cities. Conclusion. Empirical studies have confirmed the distribution of Russian cities by the ratio of their rank and size, and spatial clustering of Russian cities in the rate of population growth.