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METHODS OF STUDYING THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF MARKET ZONES

1976; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 17; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00385417.1976.10640139

2377-7931

Andrei A. Tatarinov,

Transportation Systems and Logistics

The mean-field concept is used to derive an index μ that describes consumption conditions within a market zone by relating aggregate volumes of haul of a particular product to aggregate freight costs. The technique is illustrated in the case of the fuel-oil market zones of Soviet refineries. The highest values for μ, suggesting zones with optimal refinery locations, are found for the Novopolotsk refinery in Belorussia and the Kirishi refinery near Leningrad. The lowest values are found for the East Siberian refinery at Angarsk and the West Kazakhstan refinery at Gur'yev. The size of market zones tends to vary seasonally in some cases because the use of waterways in summer reduces the length of haul, thus raising the μ index for some refineries. The shape of fields of two interacting market zones will depend not only on the length of haul from producing centers but also on the μ index.