In the US context, boundaries matter because there is a steep density gradient from center to suburb. There is a technique called weighted perceived density to

In the US context, boundaries matter because there is a steep density gradient from center to suburb. There is a technique called weighted perceived density to fix the difference and make cities comparable. [0,1] Tokyo, Osaka, Mexico City, Seoul, and (to a lesser extent) Paris don't have steep gradients of density from center to edge and have better defined natural boundaries between urban and rural. The blending in the USA edge cities is the result of heroic subsidy levels and Stalinist command and control zoning and minimum free parking mandate policies. It is not natural or compatible with free markets. The areas I quoted in the USA (NY County, NY and SF County, CA) are very specific and not at all fuzzy. [0] http://austinzoning.typepad.com/austincontrarian/2008/03/perceived-densi.html http://austinzoning.typepad.com/austincontrarian/2008/03/per... [1] http://www.uctc.net/access/37/access37_sprawl.shtml http://www.uctc.net/access/37/access37_sprawl.shtml