Author(s)

M. Haraldsson & T. Svensson

Abstract

The structural changes in retailing towards out-of-town establishments over the last few decades have affected the attractiveness of towns and cities and the urban transport system profoundly. Many countries in Europe have implemented policies and planning guidelines that reflect a more restrictive attitude towards out-of-town establishments. This has been done, however, without an in-depth economic analysis. This paper will discuss the research agenda in this field with examples and applications from the grocery sector. The main focus is tackled from two complementary perspectives: the construction of a spatial general optimisation model and identification of potential "social dilemmas" associated with the structural changes. The results show that out-of-town stores are not efficient when the available

Keywords