Abstract
A rigorous analysis of the 80/20 rule is made using an index for the observed values of the variables. Three important findings are identified. First, a sufficient condition is provided for Burrell's inverse relationship between minimum holdings and average circulation rate. Second, an indexed version of Lotka's law is used to derive a sufficient condition for Egghe's finding on the 80/20 rule. Third, through the computer simulations of the Simon-Yule model of Lotka's law, we identify the entry rate of new holdings as well as the number of circulations when the entry rate is a decreasing function to be crucial factors for the pattern of the 80/20-type curve.
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Chen, YS., Pete Chong, P. & Tong, Y. Theoretical foundation of the 80/20 rule. Scientometrics 28, 183–204 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016899
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016899