Geography Project on ChGeography Project on Christaller’s ristaller’s

Central Place TheoryCentral Place Theory

What is the theory about ?What is the theory about ?►seeks to explain the size seeks to explain the size

and spacing of human and spacing of human settlementsettlement

►suggests that there are suggests that there are laws determining the laws determining the number, size and number, size and distribution of towns distribution of towns

The principle of ChristallerThe principle of Christaller►Three different Three different

arrangements of Central arrangements of Central Places Theory:Places Theory:

►The Marketing Principle The Marketing Principle (K=3)(K=3)

►The Transportation The Transportation Principle (K=4)Principle (K=4)

►The Administrative The Administrative Principle (K=7)Principle (K=7)

The principle of ChristallerThe principle of Christaller►1. price, demand1. price, demand►2. distance, Demand2. distance, Demand►With longer distance, people need to With longer distance, people need to

pay more transportation cost, the higher pay more transportation cost, the higher price they have to pay.price they have to pay.

►The maximum distance over which The maximum distance over which people will travel to purchase Range of people will travel to purchase Range of goodsgoods

►The minimum population that is required The minimum population that is required to bring about the offering of the goods.to bring about the offering of the goods.

Threshold population.Threshold population.

Modern Development inModern Development in transport and marketing transport and marketing

►Development of Development of railway railway

►Development of highwayDevelopment of highway

Wide spread of InternetWide spread of Internet

►E- ShopsE- Shops►E- BankE- Bank► Internet auctionInternet auction►Business forumBusiness forum►ExhibitionExhibition

You can trade on the Internet by using our e-

banking services.

►Development of ancillary servicesDevelopment of ancillary services for example, Consultants ,Advertising for example, Consultants ,Advertising

agencies ,Delivering services….etcagencies ,Delivering services….etc

You want to open a firm?We can help

you!!

You would like to send

your products to

customers?Find us!!!

We provide professional

advertising services.

Example……Example……►This shop’s brand name is This shop’s brand name is

widely spreadwidely spread►So, even people living in So, even people living in

Hong Kong Island would Hong Kong Island would like to travel a rather long like to travel a rather long distance to Yuen Long to distance to Yuen Long to enjoy the foodenjoy the food

►Can you guess which Can you guess which shop we are talking shop we are talking about???about???

What is the effect of What is the effect of these development these development

then???then???

1.Change in location1.Change in location

► not locate at centre of a territory not locate at centre of a territory anymore.anymore.

►Locates at transport networkLocates at transport network►Reason: to enlarge market area,Reason: to enlarge market area,

because mobility of customers risebecause mobility of customers rise

2. Change in range of goods:2. Change in range of goods:

►There are more high order centers and There are more high order centers and less smaller marketsless smaller markets

►Reason: High order centers include Reason: High order centers include both high and low order goodsboth high and low order goods

Let me buy all the goods I need at one go!!!

It’s time to say bye bye…

What thing does it would like to What thing does it would like to illustrate?illustrate?

►Multi-purpose trip.Multi-purpose trip.► It means that in weekends or holidays, It means that in weekends or holidays,

people will purchase a full range of people will purchase a full range of goods in one single journey.goods in one single journey.

►Demand for higher order townDemand for higher order town ►But Demand for lower order town But Demand for lower order town

and finally they will be eliminated and finally they will be eliminated through keen competition through keen competition

3.Existence of E-commerce3.Existence of E-commerce

►A seller says “I A seller says “I can make profits can make profits too here, even too here, even though no though no customers customers comes~!!!!”comes~!!!!”

►Some sellers rather choose to stay at Some sellers rather choose to stay at place with low-rent price, why???place with low-rent price, why???

►Because of the existence of Because of the existence of computer~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!computer~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

►Customers can buy goods and services Customers can buy goods and services via internet easily. They can just via internet easily. They can just sitting arm-chair and order goods and sitting arm-chair and order goods and they will be delivered to their place. they will be delivered to their place. This is used very often for This is used very often for standardized goods.standardized goods.

Conclusions that can be Conclusions that can be mademade

►The larger the settlements, the fewer The larger the settlements, the fewer their number their number

►The larger a settlement, the farther The larger a settlement, the farther away a similar size settlement is away a similar size settlement is

►The Range increases as the population The Range increases as the population increases increases

►The larger the settlement, the higher The larger the settlement, the higher the order of its services. the order of its services.

Evaluation on CPTEvaluation on CPT

►Production cost may vary Production cost may vary ►Transportation cost are not equal in Transportation cost are not equal in

different directiondifferent direction►Rural market is not evenly distributedRural market is not evenly distributed►Cultural, political, personal perception Cultural, political, personal perception

or else, factors other than economic or else, factors other than economic may be important toomay be important too

Here’s come to a Here’s come to a question……question……

►Can Christaller’s Central PlaCan Christaller’s Central Place Theory still apply to the reace Theory still apply to the real world situation nowadayl world situation nowadays?????s?????

Example on K=3Example on K=3

Examples on K=4Examples on K=4►Cambridge in UKCambridge in UK►Consider Cambridge as a central Consider Cambridge as a central

placeplace►Surrounded by 7, rather than 6, Surrounded by 7, rather than 6,

settlementssettlements►Each is 10-15 miles from CambridgeEach is 10-15 miles from Cambridge►As all of the satellite settlements As all of the satellite settlements

are on transport links, this is a good are on transport links, this is a good example of a K=4 CPT model example of a K=4 CPT model

Ely

Newmarket

Haverhill

Saffron Saffron WaldenWalden

RoystonRoyston

St NeotsSt Neots

St IvesSt Ives

Cambridge

What can we learn form What can we learn form CPT???CPT???

►Urban planningUrban planning►For society to ensure equal provision For society to ensure equal provision

of goods and servicesof goods and services►Provides specific, relevant, reliable Provides specific, relevant, reliable

information to economic developers, information to economic developers, suppliers what kind of trade or service suppliers what kind of trade or service enterprise will and also will not likely enterprise will and also will not likely work!!!work!!!

Members ListMembers List

►Jane Lam Lai FaJane Lam Lai Fa►Joanne Chu Chung YanJoanne Chu Chung Yan►Ryan Chan Kin HoRyan Chan Kin Ho►Gary Kwan Tsz ChungGary Kwan Tsz Chung

The EndThe End