The Gravity Model

The Gravity Model is a way to predict how much activity, like trade or travel, happens between two places. It’s based on the idea that larger places (with bigger populations or economies) attract more activity, similar to how gravity pulls objects more strongly with greater mass. Additionally, the distance between the places matters—closer locations tend to have more interactions. So, the model combines the size of each location and how far apart they are to estimate the flow of goods, people, or information between them, helping understand and plan for regional connections.