Richard von Thünen (German economist)

Richard von Thünen was a 19th-century German economist known for his work on agricultural land use and economic geography. He developed the "Isolated State" model, which explains how different types of farming are located relative to a central market. Thünen suggested that land use is influenced by transportation costs and the perishability of products. For example, crops that spoil quickly are grown closer to the market, while less perishable goods can be produced further away. His theories laid the groundwork for understanding rural economics and spatial organization in agriculture.