Von Thünen Model and Agricultural Location Theory

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Von Thünen Model and agricultural location theory.

Von Thünen Model

A model that explains agricultural land use based on distance from a central market.

Isotropic plain

A flat, featureless landscape used as an assumption in the von Thünen model.

Bid-Rent Curve

A graph that shows how the price or rent of land decreases as the distance from the city increases.

Perishable items

Products that must be sold quickly to avoid spoilage, such as fruits and vegetables.

Wheat Farms in North Dakota

An example of agricultural land use based on the von Thünen model, focusing on distance to grain elevators.

Comparative Advantage

The ability of a producer to produce a good at a lower opportunity cost than another producer.

Non-Isotropic Plains

Real landscapes that include rivers and physical features that affect land use patterns.

Multiple Markets

The concept that farmers have various markets for different products they grow.

Transportation Changes

Developments in transportation that impact agricultural patterns, such as the introduction of railroads.

Criticisms of von Thünen's Model

Recognizes that no model can account for every variable in real-world land use.