Transcript Von Thunen Model - Vista RidgeAP Human Geography

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Von Thunen Model
Annette L. Parkhurst, M.Ed.
With a little help from my friend, WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Background
 The Von Thünen model of agricultural land, created before
industrialization, made the following simplifying assumptions:
 The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State."
 The Isolated State is surrounded by wilderness.
 The land is completely flat and has no rivers or mountains.
 Soil quality and climate are consistent.
 Farmers in the Isolated State transport their own goods to market via
oxcart, across land, directly to the central city. There are no roads.
 Farmers behave rationally to maximize profits.
It’s all about cost & proximity
R=Y(p-c)-YFm
RINGS:
R=Y(p-c)-YFm
1. Market-oriented gardens & dairy
R
= land
rent;
• Most
expensive
land, products (delivery cost), and
(no unit
shelf life)
Y very
= perishable
yield per
of land;
2. Wood lots
p
= market
price
per
• Timber
for construction
and
fuel unit of
• Must commodity
be close because of weight of freight
3. Crops and Pasture
c
= production
expenses
per unit of
• Commodities
are rotated
annually
4. Animal grazing
commodity;
• Requires the most space
5. Beyond
fourth ring
lies the
wilderness
F = thefreight
rate
(per
agricultural unit,
• Distance from the city is too great a distance from the
per mile);
central city for any type of agricultural product.
m = distance to market.
PRO’S AND CONS
PROS
 Organized typical land
organization (what was being
practiced)
 Perfect world only
 Developed for small regional
focus w/single market center
but is easily applicable at the
national or global scale
CONS
 Assumes all land is uniform
(quality)
 Doesn’t account for
topographical features (hills,
rivers, etc.)
• Cost changes with land or water
transportation
 Doesn’t consider social customs
or government policies and
influences