What is the key idea of Losch's Model of Economic Location?

• A. Firms locate near natural resources.
• B. Firms locate where labor costs are minimized.
• C. Firms locate to maximize tax incentives.
• D. Firms locate where profits are maximized, creating a zone of profitability around a central city.

Answer: (D)

Firms locate to maximize profits, and Losch’s idea is that there is a zone around a central city where profits remain positive because the market access offsets transportation costs. In the model, the market is concentrated in the city, and transporting goods costs money that rises with distance. As you move away from the center, profits per unit edge down due to higher transport costs, and beyond some distance those costs erode profits to zero. The result is a ring-shaped area—the zone of profitability—where locating is worthwhile. This focuses on profit maximization rather than merely chasing resources, minimizing labor costs, or seeking tax breaks. The larger the potential market or the cheaper transport, the larger the zone of profitability around the city.