Entropic trends in regional analysis and planning: 1964-1983

The principal research themes related to the use of the entropic concept in regional analysis and planning are identified. For the twenty-year period studied, four five-year subdivisions are proposed, corresponding to the following stages: initial thrust, thematic development, maturity and after-math. The common denominator of these approaches is the entropy maximization method. This contrasts with the less prominent role which the concept plays as a descriptive index of territorial location in spite of efforts made in the fields of theory and application. The article is completed with a wide-ranging bibliography of utility to both those interested in theoretical geography and also researchers in contemporary geographical thought. -from English summary