What is concentric theory?

Theory of the Concentric Zone
William Burgess formulated a model of urban land-use patterns that notes that a city will take the shape of concentric urban zones: the city centre, the zone in transition, the zone of working people houses, the zone of decent housing, and the zone of commuting. Each zone expands into the next, resulting in increased development.

Zone I (Central Business District) – The city centre district is situated in this zone (innermost zone) and has the greatest value of land. The zone has tertiary operations and generates the most profit.

Zone II (Transition Zone) – This zone is characterized by its combination of residential and commercial uses. This is close to and near the CBD, and it is constantly evolving, i.e. transitioning. Another characteristic is the variety of activities that take place, such as mixed land use, parking, cafes, and old buildings structures.

Zone III (Working Class/Inner City) – This area is also known as the "inner city" or "inner suburbs," and it is used for residential housing. It was made up of homes built for factory workers, but it was in better condition than the transition area. This zone is the most accessible to the workplace and has a modest standard of living, resulting in lower transportation costs.

Zone IV (White Collar Homes/Outer Suburbs) – This zone had larger houses and new developments that were occupied by the middle income. Residents have access to better amenities such as parks, green spaces, stores, and large gardens, but this comes at a higher cost of transportation. There is a lot of residential properties in this district. The people who live in this outer ring aspire for a higher standard of life.

Zone V (Commuter Zone) –  People who resided in this area belonged to high-income classes who could afford big apartments, pay commuting fees, use various means of transport, and take benefits of modern amenities and facilities such as shopping centres.