IMPERFECT INFORMATION,UNCERTAINTY AND OPTIMAL SAMPLING IN LOCATION THEORY: AN INITIAL REEXAMINATION OF HOTELLING,WEBER, AND VON THÜNEN*

ABSTRACT Sophisticated locational analysis should no longer proceed without examining (1) the feasibility of reducing uncertainty about the size and spatial spread of the market, prices and other elements and (2) the practicality of information generation through sampling. The present paper points out the methodology for Hotelling-, Weberian- and von Thünen- type location problems by examining simplified situations.