A RETAIL MARKET POTENTIAL MODEL

The authors explore possible equilibrium distributions for large retail trade center's in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Possible sites for centers are selected on general planning grounds and tested for feasibility and "balance." Balance is determined in terms of the volume of business attracted by each center in relation to its size. By repeated trials, it is established that there exists a balanced distribution in which the size of centers is related to their drawing power, which in turn depends on the distribution of purchasing power projected for the area and the transportation facilities and for trip-makers. This land use model is intimately related to transportation models, by The balanced distribution of retail outlets turns out to be the minimum cost pattern for trip-makers. This land use model is intimately related to transportation models, by way of network tracing and a gravity model trip distribution theory. It represents a departure from some of the restrictions of central place theory (as illustrated in the article by Berry in this issue).