---
entity_slug: inland_market_limitation
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:37:13.120235'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly identifies a specific economic constraint - geographical
    distance from trade routes limiting market access and development opportunities.
    It avoids circularity and captures a distinct concept with measurable characteristics
    (transportation costs, market size, specialization opportunities).
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's explicit discussion in Book
    I, Chapter 3 about how inland regions "can have no other market than the surrounding
    country" and how their improvement is "posterior to the improvement of that country."
    The concept faithfully represents Smith's analysis of geographical constraints
    on economic development.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Production" domain assignment is appropriate since this limitation
    directly affects productive capacity, division of labor, and manufacturing development.
    While it could arguably fit in a "Trade" or "Geography" domain, its primary impact
    is on production capabilities and economic output.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as
    it represents environmental constraints that economic systems must recognize and
    adapt to. It also relates to S1 (primary operations) by limiting the scope and
    efficiency of productive activities.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating a
    fundamental structural mechanism - how geographical position creates systematic
    constraints on market development, specialization, and economic growth. It explains
    why some regions develop more slowly than others through identifiable causal relationships.
---

# Evaluation: Inland Market Limitation

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly identifies a specific economic constraint - geographical distance from trade routes limiting market access and development opportunities. It avoids circularity and captures a distinct concept with measurable characteristics (transportation costs, market size, specialization opportunities).

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's explicit discussion in Book I, Chapter 3 about how inland regions "can have no other market than the surrounding country" and how their improvement is "posterior to the improvement of that country." The concept faithfully represents Smith's analysis of geographical constraints on economic development.

## domain_placement — 4.0 / 5.0

The "Production" domain assignment is appropriate since this limitation directly affects productive capacity, division of labor, and manufacturing development. While it could arguably fit in a "Trade" or "Geography" domain, its primary impact is on production capabilities and economic output.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it represents environmental constraints that economic systems must recognize and adapt to. It also relates to S1 (primary operations) by limiting the scope and efficiency of productive activities.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating a fundamental structural mechanism - how geographical position creates systematic constraints on market development, specialization, and economic growth. It explains why some regions develop more slowly than others through identifiable causal relationships.
