Zipf's Law
George Kingsley Zipf is the eponym of Zipf's law, which states that while only a few words are used very often, many or most are used rarely,
where Pn is the frequency of a word ranked nth and the exponent a is almost 1. This means that the second item occurs approximately 1/2 as often as the first, and the third item 1/3 as often as the first, and so on. .
The rank vs. frequency distribution of individual incomes in a unified nation approximates this law. Breaks in this "normal curve of income distribution" portend social pressure for change, even revolution. This is demonstrated in his 1941 book, "National Unity and Disunity" in which the break in the curve of income distribution in 1940 in Indonesia predicts revolution there. Revolution began five years later, in 1945.
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Famous quotes containing the word law:
“The great King of kings
Hath in the table of his law commanded
That thou shalt do no murder. Will you then
Spurn at his edict, and fulfill a man’s?
Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand
To hurl upon their heads that break his law.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)