The Market Structure of the U.S. Retail Industry: 1984-2003

Retail structure may be changing dramatically due to
the diversified retail formats, increased size of
retail stores, new technological developments, and
the changes in consumer behavior. The study of retail
structure has a place in the historical research on
retailing but has been generally the descriptive
type. There is a lack of any empirical work on the
structure of US retailing in whole or part. With the
significant growth of the Internet retailing, it is
more important to see the potential market structure
in this new area of retail. Therefore, this book is
designed to follow the changes in the US retailing
from1984-2003 and look at the market structure in
Internet retailing. By examining key metrics, this
book outlines structural changes in overall retailing
and each segment of retail. This book also examines
the predictive ability in the retail industry and
further forecasts retail structural changes in the
next five years. The findings will provide empirical
evidence for the various structural models
conceptualized in the texts and also give some
support for retailers and public policy makers on
their market strategies or public policies toward
better market performances.

Autorentext

Wenti Xu, Ph.D.: Studied consumer sciences and retailing atPurdue University. Assistant professor in the School of Economicsand Management at Beijing University of Aeronautics andAstronautics. Richard Feinberg, Ph.D.: Consumer psychologist andProfessor in the Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing atPurdue University.

Klappentext

Retail structure may be changing dramatically due tothe diversified retail formats, increased size ofretail stores, new technological developments, andthe changes in consumer behavior. The study of retailstructure has a place in the historical research onretailing but has been generally the descriptivetype. There is a lack of any empirical work on thestructure of US retailing in whole or part. With thesignificant growth of the Internet retailing, it ismore important to see the potential market structurein this new area of retail. Therefore, this book isdesigned to follow the changes in the US retailingfrom1984-2003 and look at the market structure inInternet retailing. By examining key metrics, thisbook outlines structural changes in overall retailingand each segment of retail. This book also examinesthe predictive ability in the retail industry andfurther forecasts retail structural changes in thenext five years. The findings will provide empiricalevidence for the various structural modelsconceptualized in the texts and also give somesupport for retailers and public policy makers ontheir market strategies or public policies towardbetter market performances.