FRQ: Weber's Least Cost Theory

Proximity to the market and material resources are important factors influencing manufacturing location.

Identify the four points of the least-cost theory triangle in the image above.

Explain, using a specific example, the conditions under which Least Cost Theory predicts that manufacturing will locate closer to the raw material sources than to the market.

Explain, using a specific example, the conditions under which Least Cost Theory predicts that manufacturing will locate closer to the market than to raw material sources.

Explain the relationship between advances in transportation technology and the spatial scale at which manufacturing location decisions are made.

Explain how containerization changed how companies determine the proximity of manufacturing to the market in the global supply chain.

Explain the degree to which the availability of secondary sector workers influences a company's decision about where to manufacture its products.

Explain a limitation of using Weber's Least Cost Theory to predict the location of customer service call centers. Include the factors that would influence where a company decides to locate a call center.