Johann Heinrich von Thunen

Definition

A 19th-century German economist who developed a model of land use that showed how market processes could determine how land in different locations would be used.

Analogy

Think of von Thunen as a real estate agent for farmers. He's not just showing them any old piece of land, but he's helping them understand which pieces of land are best suited for their specific needs based on distance from the market and type of crop.

Related terms

Economic Geography: The study of how economic activities vary spatially, utilizing economic theory to examine the behaviors of economic features across the world.

Land Use Model: A theoretical construct representing functional relationships between different elements of land use, often centered around patterns observed in urban environments.

Von Thunen Model: An agricultural model that suggests a pattern for the use of farmland based on varying transportation cost due to location relative to markets.