August Lösch

German location theorist

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June 30, 2026

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August Lösch was a German economist who expanded upon Walter Christaller's central-place theory. While Christaller started with the highest-order settlements, Lösch began with the lowest-order farms, regularly distributed in a triangular-hexagonal pattern. From this, he mathematically derived several central-place systems, including Christaller's three systems. Lösch's work allowed for specialized places and illustrated how some central places could become wealthier than others. His contributions are foundational to location theory, which seeks to understand why economic activities are located where they are.12

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central-place theory
The German economist August Lösch expanded on Christaller’s work in his book The Spatial Organization of the Economy (1940). Unlike Christaller, whose system of central places began with the highest-order, Lösch began with a system of lowest-order (self-sufficient) farms, which were regularly distributed in a triangular-hexagonal pattern. From…
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The German economist August Lösch expanded on Christaller’s work in his book The Spatial Organization of the Economy (1940). Unlike Christaller, whose system of central places began with the highest-order, Lösch began with a system of lowest-order (self-sufficient) farms, which were regularly distributed in a triangular-hexagonal pattern. From…
Read More