What does the concept of distance decay describe in geography?

• A. Increased interaction with greater distance
• B. Interaction declines with distance
• C. Urbanization increases with distance
• D. Migration is unaffected by distance

Answer: (B)

Distance decay describes how interaction between places decreases as the distance between them increases. The further apart locations are, the more costly and time-consuming it is to move goods, people, and information, so exchanges and connections tend to drop off with distance. This helps explain why nearby towns trade more and why cities closer to transportation routes have stronger links. Modern tech and faster transport can reduce distance decay, but the overall pattern—less interaction as distance grows—remains central. Opposite ideas would imply more interaction with distance, which contradicts how frictions of distance shape spatial flows, and statements about urbanization or migration being unaffected by distance ignore its role in influencing how and where people and goods move.