---
entity_slug: agricultural_market_access_inequality
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T00:28:11.426018'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly identifies a specific phenomenon - disparities
    in market access for agricultural producers - and provides concrete factors that
    create these disparities (transportation, institutions, geography). It avoids
    circularity and captures a distinct economic concept rather than a vague umbrella
    term.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is well-grounded in Smith's analysis in Book III, Chapter
    2, where he extensively discusses how medieval institutions, transportation infrastructure
    (especially navigable waterways), and geographical factors created systematic
    advantages for some agricultural regions over others. The concept directly reflects
    Smith's historical analysis of market development.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Exchange" domain is the correct placement for this entity, as it
    fundamentally concerns the mechanisms and barriers that affect how agricultural
    producers access markets to exchange their goods. This is clearly about market
    structures and trading relationships rather than production or distribution per
    se.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S4 (intelligence/environmental
    adaptation) as it concerns how economic systems adapt to environmental constraints
    and opportunities. It also touches on S1 (operations) regarding how primary economic
    activities function, but the mapping is not as natural or central as more operational
    concepts.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the structural
    mechanisms that create economic inequality between regions - showing how institutional
    and infrastructural factors systematically advantage some producers over others.
    It goes beyond merely naming a phenomenon to explain the underlying causes of
    regional economic disparities.
---

# Evaluation: Agricultural Market Access Inequality

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly identifies a specific phenomenon - disparities in market access for agricultural producers - and provides concrete factors that create these disparities (transportation, institutions, geography). It avoids circularity and captures a distinct economic concept rather than a vague umbrella term.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is well-grounded in Smith's analysis in Book III, Chapter 2, where he extensively discusses how medieval institutions, transportation infrastructure (especially navigable waterways), and geographical factors created systematic advantages for some agricultural regions over others. The concept directly reflects Smith's historical analysis of market development.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Exchange" domain is the correct placement for this entity, as it fundamentally concerns the mechanisms and barriers that affect how agricultural producers access markets to exchange their goods. This is clearly about market structures and trading relationships rather than production or distribution per se.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it concerns how economic systems adapt to environmental constraints and opportunities. It also touches on S1 (operations) regarding how primary economic activities function, but the mapping is not as natural or central as more operational concepts.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the structural mechanisms that create economic inequality between regions - showing how institutional and infrastructural factors systematically advantage some producers over others. It goes beyond merely naming a phenomenon to explain the underlying causes of regional economic disparities.
