The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Thünen, Johann Heinrich von

THÜNEN,, Johann Heinrich von, German economist: b. Oldenburg, 1783; d. 1850. He received a thorough education in agriculture and also studied at Göttingen. In 1810 he bought an estate in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, which he developed into a model farm. He is known now principally for the economic views expressed in ‘Der isolirte Staat in Beziehung auf Landwirtschaft und Nationalökonomie’ (3 vols., 1826-63). In this work he sets down simple premises in regard to wages and land, production, markets, etc. His law of wages has found favor among more recent economists. Consult Palgrave, ‘Dictionary of Political Economy’ (3 vols., London 1899); and Schumacher, H., ‘J. H. von Thünen, ein Forscherleben’ (2d ed., Rostock 1883).