Retail structural dynamics and the forces behind big-box retailing

Scott Munroe ()
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Scott Munroe: Claritas Inc., 5375 Mira Sorrento Place, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92121, USA

The Annals of Regional Science, 2001, vol. 35, issue 3, 357-373

Abstract: Recent change on the American retail landscape warrants a revisit to the catastrophe framework originated by Harris and Wilson (1978). A retail revolution, centered around the growth of big-box retailing, is recreating metropolitan retail structure. Alterations to both the sizes and spatial distributions of retailers in nearly every sector have resulted. This research presents a theoretical inquiry into the forces behind this change through an adoption and extension of the catastrophe theory framework. Results suggest that changes in retail structure, though they have altered consumer behavior, are more attributable to changes in the cost structures of firms than to changes in the preferences of consumers.

JEL-codes: C61 D21 L81 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001-11-16
Note: Received: June 2000/Accepted: December 2000
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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