The document compares Christaller's central place theory (CPT) and Losch's theory of the economics of location. Some key differences include: CPT applies to fully developed landscapes while Losch's theory applies to developing areas. CPT is more applicable to developed countries while Losch's theory applies more to developing countries. CPT is based on supply and services while Losch's theory is based more on demand and production. CPT shows fixed hierarchies while Losch's theory has more randomness in hierarchies.

1. Comparison
CHRISTALLER LOSCH
CPT is applicable where the landscape is fully
developed (allsettlement patterns,hierarchical
levels, ordering, and spacing are at the fullest
level of development
Applicable where the landscape is not fully
developed rather it is in a stage of development
and spatial organization based on the geometrical
pattern is absent
It is applicable in developed countries It is applicable in developing countries
It is closer to Rank Size rule It is closer to the Primate City concept
It is based on supply factor and every Central
place provides services to the Complimentary
Area
It is based on demand and Central place is a
production center,not merely a provider of
service
It is based on services sector-based economy It is based on a manufacturing-based economy
It is an idealistic and normative model It is more practical and applicable
It cannot showthe regional disparity of
development
It shows regional economic differences by
dividing the landscape in rich and poor.
It has a fixed hierarchy and at each hierarchical
level, the number ofsettlements is also fixed (1,
6, 36, 216)
It doesn’t showthe fixed number of
hierarchies. It has more randomness and the
different hierarchical settlements are mixed and
interwoven
‘K’ value fixed to vary (Marketing Principle = 1,
3, 9; Traffic Principle = 1, 4, 16; Administrative
Principle= 1 ,7, 49 )
‘K’ value is free to vary
All Goods & Services have been accommodated
in 3 principles
Total number of Goods & Services = 150
Lesser empirical validity Much higher empirical validity
Sociological Approach Economist Approach
Christaller’s Model is based on top to bottom
analysis and the flow is from higher hierarchy to
lower hierarchy.
But, in Losch, flow is from lower to higher, and
the emergence of primate city or centralplace is
due to
the polarisation of economic activities
CPT signifies Centrifugal forces Losch signifies Centripetal forces
CPT is based on South West Germany Losch is based on the State of Iowa, USA