Glossary
Concentric Rings
The visual representation used in the Von Thunen Model, depicting different agricultural zones as a series of circles surrounding a central market city.
Example:
The concentric rings of the Von Thunen Model help visualize how different crops are grown at varying distances from the market.
Extensive Farming
An agricultural system characterized by low inputs of labor, capital, or technology per unit of land, typically yielding lower-value, less perishable goods over large areas.
Example:
Large-scale wheat production across vast plains is a classic example of extensive farming, requiring less labor per acre.
Flat Land (Assumption)
A simplifying assumption of the Von Thunen Model that the landscape is uniform and level, without any topographical barriers like mountains or rivers that would impede transportation.
Example:
The model assumes a perfectly smooth plain, ignoring how a mountain range might disrupt the flat land assumption and alter agricultural zones.
Intensive Farming
An agricultural system characterized by high inputs of labor, capital, or technology per unit of land, typically yielding high-value, perishable goods.
Example:
Growing fresh strawberries in greenhouses near a city is an example of intensive farming due to the high investment and quick turnaround.
Land Use Intensity
The degree to which land is utilized for agricultural production, ranging from high inputs and yields (intensive) to low inputs and yields over large areas (extensive).
Example:
The Von Thunen Model predicts a decrease in land use intensity as one moves further away from the central market.
No Externalities (Assumption)
A simplifying assumption of the Von Thunen Model that there are no external economic or environmental factors influencing land use decisions, such as government subsidies or pollution.
Example:
The model operates under the assumption of no externalities, meaning it doesn't account for government policies like agricultural subsidies that could alter farming patterns.
No Transportation Between Zones (Assumption)
A simplifying assumption of the Von Thunen Model that goods only travel directly from the farm to the central market, without intermediate stops or trade between different agricultural zones.
Example:
The model assumes no transportation between zones, meaning a farmer in the grain zone wouldn't sell feed to a rancher in the livestock zone; all goods go straight to the city.
Single Agricultural Activity (Assumption)
A simplifying assumption of the Von Thunen Model that each farm produces only one type of crop or livestock, rather than diversifying.
Example:
The model assumes a single agricultural activity per farm, which contrasts with modern diversified farms that might grow multiple crops and raise animals.
Single Market (Assumption)
A simplifying assumption of the Von Thunen Model that there is only one central market city to which all agricultural products are transported and sold.
Example:
The model simplifies reality by assuming a single market, whereas in reality, farmers often have access to multiple towns or cities.
Transportation Costs
The expenses incurred in moving agricultural products from the farm to the market, which are a primary factor in determining land use patterns in the Von Thunen Model.
Example:
High transportation costs for fresh produce mean that vegetable farms are typically located closer to urban centers.
Uniform Transportation Costs (Assumption)
A simplifying assumption of the Von Thunen Model that transportation costs increase linearly with distance from the market, regardless of the type of road or mode of transport.
Example:
The model assumes uniform transportation costs, meaning moving goods one mile costs the same everywhere, which isn't true if some roads are paved and others are dirt.
Von Thunen Model
A 19th-century economic model that explains agricultural land use based on transportation costs and market distance, predicting a spatial arrangement of farming activities around a central market.
Example:
A city's surrounding farms might follow the Von Thunen Model, with dairy farms close by and cattle ranches much further out.
Zone 1: Intensive Agriculture and Dairying
The innermost ring of the Von Thunen Model, dedicated to highly perishable and high-demand products like fresh milk, fruits, and vegetables due to high land costs and the need for quick transport.
Example:
A farm specializing in organic lettuce and fresh herbs located just outside a major metropolitan area would fit into Zone 1: Intensive Agriculture and Dairying.
Zone 2: Forest
The second ring in the Von Thunen Model, historically designated for timber and firewood production due to the high cost and difficulty of transporting heavy wood over long distances.
Example:
In the 19th century, a town would rely on its nearby Zone 2: Forest for lumber to build houses and wood for heating.
Zone 3: Extensive Field Crops
The third ring in the Von Thunen Model, used for less perishable and lighter crops like grains (wheat, barley) that can be stored and transported more economically over longer distances.
Example:
Vast fields of corn and soybeans in the American Midwest exemplify Zone 3: Extensive Field Crops due to their storability and lower transport costs relative to their value.
Zone 4: Ranching
The outermost ring of the Von Thunen Model, characterized by livestock grazing, which requires large amounts of cheap land and where animals could historically be driven to market on the hoof.
Example:
Large cattle ranches in remote areas of Texas or Montana are modern parallels to Zone 4: Ranching, utilizing extensive land for livestock.