Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch

Central Place Theory is a geographic theory that was developed in the early 20th century by two German geographers, Walter Christaller and August Lösch. The theory attempts to explain how cities and other settlements are spatially distributed and how they interact with each other. The theory is based on the idea that settlements have a hierarchical relationship with each other, with larger settlements providing more specialized goods and services than smaller settlements.

Meaning

Central Place Theory is a theoretical model that attempts to explain how cities and other settlements are spatially distributed and how they interact with each other. The theory is based on the idea that settlements have a hierarchical relationship with each other, with larger settlements providing more specialized goods and services than smaller settlements. According to the theory, smaller settlements are located in close proximity to larger settlements, and the distribution of settlements is based on the market area served by each settlement.

History

Central Place Theory was first developed in the early 20th century by two German geographers, Walter Christaller and August Lösch. Christaller first introduced the concept of Central Place Theory in 1933 in his book “Central Places in Southern Germany”, while Lösch developed a similar theory in his book “The Economics of Location” in 1940.

Types

There are two main types of Central Place Theory:

The Christaller model and the Lösch model.

The Christaller model is based on the idea that settlements are distributed in a hexagonal pattern, with larger settlements located at the center of the hexagon and smaller settlements located at the vertices. The Lösch model, on the other hand, is based on the idea that settlements are distributed in a more irregular pattern, with larger settlements located in areas with high market potential and smaller settlements located in areas with lower market potential.

Examples

One example of Central Place Theory in action is the distribution of cities and towns in the United States. Larger cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, provide more specialized goods and services than smaller towns and cities. Smaller towns and cities, in turn, provide goods and services that are more basic and less specialized. The distribution of settlements is based on the market area served by each settlement, with larger cities serving larger market areas than smaller towns and cities.

Issues

One of the issues with Central Place Theory is that it assumes that all settlements are rational actors that seek to maximize their economic well-being. In reality, settlements may have other considerations, such as historical and cultural factors, that can influence their location and economic activity. Additionally, the theory assumes that the distribution of settlements is based solely on the market area served by each settlement. In reality, other factors such as transportation infrastructure, government policies, and environmental factors can also influence the location of settlements.