Industrial Location Model by Phunziro Mphwina
A TOPIC REVIEW ON INDUSTRIAL LOCATION MODEL BY ALFRED WEBER.
Geography despite being defined as a science it has a vast area of concern, whereby some of these areas touch the economic grounds a field which others identify not as a science. In geography Spatial science is the field that holds some of the economic aspects this is so as it looks at the economic functions of space. Krugman (1991:p6) defines spatial science as a geographical science that is concerned with the organization of things according to space. This is to say that the arrangement and distribution of things in line with space has a lot of effect on the efficiency of other economic processes. This led to the development of Alfred Weber’s “Industrial location model” in 1901 (McCann & Shaffer, 2004: p8). Where by Weber argued that the location of an industrial plant is determined the factors of transport costs, labor costs and agglomeration (Barnes, 1984: p1). This is the model which this essay intends to make a review on.
|Adopting some of Weber’s factors as basis of their arguments Christaller and Losch thus the Central place theory and Von Thunen’s land use theory these theorists argued in similar vain as Weber. Weber assumed that there is an uneven distribution of natural resources. Thus raw materials are in not equal existence elsewhere, (Bradford & Kent, 1977: p43).
Lokman (2003: p1) justifies Weber’s factor of resource distribution by relating it to one of Christaller’s assumptions that there is a homogeneous disperse of resources where he says one would choose to place his industry at location A which is 3 kilometers away from the market or location B which lies 5 kilometers away from the markets. Since there is an even existence of resources people would not be limited by resource availability an assumption which is very unreal. Weber disagrees to such a presupposition by bringing in reality where he says there is an uneven distribution of material thus raw materials, fuel, and
Geography despite being defined as a science it has a vast area of concern, whereby some of these areas touch the economic grounds a field which others identify not as a science. In geography Spatial science is the field that holds some of the economic aspects this is so as it looks at the economic functions of space. Krugman (1991:p6) defines spatial science as a geographical science that is concerned with the organization of things according to space. This is to say that the arrangement and distribution of things in line with space has a lot of effect on the efficiency of other economic processes. This led to the development of Alfred Weber’s “Industrial location model” in 1901 (McCann & Shaffer, 2004: p8). Where by Weber argued that the location of an industrial plant is determined the factors of transport costs, labor costs and agglomeration (Barnes, 1984: p1). This is the model which this essay intends to make a review on.
|Adopting some of Weber’s factors as basis of their arguments Christaller and Losch thus the Central place theory and Von Thunen’s land use theory these theorists argued in similar vain as Weber. Weber assumed that there is an uneven distribution of natural resources. Thus raw materials are in not equal existence elsewhere, (Bradford & Kent, 1977: p43).
Lokman (2003: p1) justifies Weber’s factor of resource distribution by relating it to one of Christaller’s assumptions that there is a homogeneous disperse of resources where he says one would choose to place his industry at location A which is 3 kilometers away from the market or location B which lies 5 kilometers away from the markets. Since there is an even existence of resources people would not be limited by resource availability an assumption which is very unreal. Weber disagrees to such a presupposition by bringing in reality where he says there is an uneven distribution of material thus raw materials, fuel, and
References: Bradford M.G. & Kent W.A (1977) Human geography theories and other applications Vol. 5 of Science in Geography, United Kingdom; Oxford University press. Barnes T.J Calvert L. (2012) Nature’s metropolis: The ghost dance of Christaller and Von Thunen. PDF. Krugman P. (1991) Urban concentration: The role of increasing returns and transport costs. International Regional Science Review 19 Lokman O McCann P. & Shafer D. (2004) Regional Science: Location, agglomeration and infrastructure. United Kingdom; University of Reading press. -------------------------------------------------