---
entity_slug: market_access_economic_potential
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:43:22.669217'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes market access economic potential
    as the maximum development possibilities based on geographic access to markets
    and trade routes. It avoids circularity and specifies measurable outcomes (specialization,
    division of labor, productivity levels).
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book I, Chapter
    3, where he explicitly discusses how water-carriage, rivers, and inland isolation
    create different levels of economic development potential based on market access
    and transportation costs.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"General Theory" is the correct domain placement as this concept represents
    a fundamental theoretical principle about how geographic factors determine economic
    development possibilities rather than a specific operational mechanism.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 2.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is too abstract and structural to map naturally to specific
    VSM systems, as it describes environmental constraints and possibilities rather
    than organizational functions. It's more of a background condition that affects
    all systems rather than belonging to any particular one.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the
    structural relationship between geography, transportation costs, market access,
    and economic development potential. It explains why certain regions can achieve
    higher levels of specialization and productivity than others.
---

# Evaluation: Market Access Economic Potential

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes market access economic potential as the maximum development possibilities based on geographic access to markets and trade routes. It avoids circularity and specifies measurable outcomes (specialization, division of labor, productivity levels).

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book I, Chapter 3, where he explicitly discusses how water-carriage, rivers, and inland isolation create different levels of economic development potential based on market access and transportation costs.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"General Theory" is the correct domain placement as this concept represents a fundamental theoretical principle about how geographic factors determine economic development possibilities rather than a specific operational mechanism.

## vsm_relevance — 2.0 / 5.0

This entity is too abstract and structural to map naturally to specific VSM systems, as it describes environmental constraints and possibilities rather than organizational functions. It's more of a background condition that affects all systems rather than belonging to any particular one.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the structural relationship between geography, transportation costs, market access, and economic development potential. It explains why certain regions can achieve higher levels of specialization and productivity than others.
