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"Demographic Transition"
Warren Thompson 1929 England
Explains population growth using CBR and CDR
4 Stages – 5th is Hypothetical
o None in 1
o LDC 2-3, MDC 3-poss.5
Assumptions:
o fall in the death rate in Stage 2 due to
industrialization
o Stage 3 has been less rapid than the model suggests
Applications: Works on global scale; still valid today
Malthus’s Theory
Malthus – 1798
Population will out grow carrying capacity of food source
Assumptions: Food grows linearly; Population grows
exponentially
Issues: predictions were inaccurate; new technology makes
food production easier
Strengths: Some still believe, spawned Neo-Malthusianism
Heartland Theory
Halford Mackinder 1904
Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland
Who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island
Who rules the World-Island commands the world
Weaknesses: No water access; disconnected by rimland
Strengths/proofs: Air travel makes more possible; Eurasia
had its imperialistic periods
Rimland Theory
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Nicholas Spykman 1942
If one controls the Rimland of Eurasia, one controls the
world
Opposed heartland theory
Weaknesses: Not as much starting land; between two areas
as opposed to being “in a corner” like heartland
Strengths: Access to water allows trade and navy; more
access to resources
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Von Thunen’s Rural Land Use Model
Von Thunen
Uses 4 concentric rings to explain the location of
agricultural activities in a commercial, profit making,
economy; based on transportation to market
Assumptions: Uniform Terrain; Isolated area; Self Sufficient
Society
Strength: Based on transport weight; would make for a self
sufficient society
Core-Periphery Model/World System’s Theory
Walt Wallerstein
Core Countries = MDC
Semi-Periphery = Newly Industrialized Countries
Periphery = LDC
Periphery depends on core
Strengths: applies on a global scale; incorporates the
dependency theory
Rostow’s Model
W. W. Rostow 1960’s
Based on Successful MDCs
Model of Economic Development
Traditional society
Preconditions for take-off
Take-off
Drive to maturity
Age of High mass consumption
Assumptions: Equal Resource Distribution; No stages can
be skipped or altered
Criticisms: Not realistic; Not all countries have same
opportunities
Strengths: maps out path of certain current MDC’s; provides
a base for some countries to model after
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Weber’s Least Cost Theory
Alfred Weber 1909
Showed placement of production plants based on
transport costs
Assumptions: Uniform Topography; labor indefinite;
industrial point within triangle; homogeny
Strength: Accommodates for many weight scenarios;
Agglomeration
Weakness: Doesn’t consider employment costs and SEZ
Central Place Theory
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Walter Christaller 1933 Germany
 Urban Hierarchy based on functions available in city
 Shows hierarchy of settlements with hexagons
 Assumptions: Flat Land; Uni. Soil Fertility; PP evenly
distributed; Uni. Transport Network; Constant max
range and threshold
 Strengths: Applicable to China and Midwest
Concentric Zone Model
Burgess 1923 Anglo-America (Chicago)
5 rings show urban development: CBD, Zone Transition,
Working class homes, zone of better housing, commuter
zone
Criticisms: Upperclass would cluster not ring, areas would
not form in rings
Sector Model
Homer Hoyt 1939 Anglo-America (Chicago)
Response to CZM, but sectors used instead of rings
Poor near CBD, middle class buffer, High class sector
Strengths: allowed for geographical intrusions, more
realistic
Multiple Nuclei Model
Harris & Ullman 1945 Anglo-America
Independent of CBD, nodes dictate businesses, more
activity centers
Strengths: Most realistic, conforms to different nodes
Urban Realms Model
San Francisco
Most people live in edge cities
Contains retail and industry outside of the CBD
Latin American Model
Griffin & Ford Mexico City
Spine with elite shops and residences meets a market
Periterico – squatter settlements on outside
Industry at top
African City Model
South Africa
Fastest Growing Cities
3 CBDs: Colonial, Informal Market Zone, Transitional
Buisness
Mixed ethnic neighborhoods
Surrounded by squatter cities (10% South Africa live in
shanty towns)