  This study introduces a metric designed to measure urban structures through
the economic complexity lens, building on the foundational theories of urban
spatial structure, the Central Place Theory (CPT) (Christaller, 1933). Despite
the significant contribution in the field of urban studies and geography, CPT
has limited in suggesting an index that captures its key ideas. By analyzing
various urban big data of Seoul, we demonstrate that PCI and ECI effectively
identify the key ideas of CPT, capturing the spatial structure of a city that
associated with the distribution of economic activities, infrastructure, and
market orientation in line with the CPT. These metrics for urban centrality
offer a modern approach to understanding the Central Place Theory and tool for
urban planning and regional economic strategies without privacy issues.
