Glossary
Bid-Rent Theory
An economic geographical theory that explains how the price and demand for land change as the distance from the Central Business District (CBD) increases.
Example:
According to bid-rent theory, a high-rise office building can afford expensive land in the city center, while a sprawling factory needs cheaper land further out.
CBD (Central Business District)
The commercial and often geographic heart of a city, characterized by high land values, dense development, and a concentration of businesses and services.
Example:
In New York City, Times Square and Wall Street are iconic parts of the CBD, where land is at its most expensive and economic activity is concentrated.
Commercial Farming
An agricultural practice focused on producing crops or livestock for sale in the market, typically on a large scale and with the goal of generating profit.
Example:
Vast fields of corn in Iowa, harvested by combines and sold globally to food processing companies, exemplify commercial farming.
Extensive Farming
An agricultural method that uses lower inputs of labor and capital relative to the large land area being farmed, often resulting in lower yields per unit of land.
Example:
Large cattle ranches across the American West, where livestock graze freely over vast pastures, are a prime example of extensive farming.
Intensive Farming
An agricultural method characterized by high inputs of labor, capital, or technology on relatively small plots of land to maximize yield per unit area.
Example:
Dutch greenhouse operations growing tomatoes year-round with precise climate control and hydroponics demonstrate intensive farming.
Monocropping/Monoculture
The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a large area, often year after year.
Example:
The vast fields of genetically modified soybeans stretching for miles across the Brazilian cerrado illustrate the practice of monoculture.
Subsistence Farming
An agricultural practice where farmers grow food primarily for their own consumption and that of their families, with little to no surplus for sale.
Example:
A small family in rural Vietnam cultivates rice and vegetables on their plot, ensuring they have enough food to eat throughout the year, which is a classic example of subsistence farming.