Capability constraints

From Geography

Capability constraints are one of the type of constraints that Torsten Hägerstrand uses to explain human spatial activity in his time geography approach. As the word suggests, capability constraints are limits which come from some way of incapability. According to Hägerstrand these constraints are things that limit the activities of an individual. This can be in a biological construction, for example an older person who is not able to walk very far. Then there are limits caused by not having the right tools to act a certain way. When one does not have access to a car, this person will not be able to go to a place very far away.

Capability constraints form time-space prisms of individuals. People who have to walk between places will have a smaller prism, than people who use cars for transportation. This is caused by the fact that one who has a faster way of transportation will be able to go further in a shorter period of time (Hägerstrand, 1970).

References

Hagerstand, T. (1970). What about people in regional science? Paper for the Ninth European Congress of the Regional Science Association.

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