Abstract:

The paper considers general trends of structural change in terms of averages per type of trade. It consists of two parts. The first paper is descriptive, and gives an international comparison of trends concerning average shop size, number of shops per 1.000 inhabitants, the share of independents and concentration in the general food trade. The second paper is more analytical, and considers underlying causes of structural change in terms of productivity and profit. The analysis of productivity focusses on economies of scale, and briefly considers the effects of an extension of shopping hours. The analysis of profits considers the factors that determine average margin per type of trade. The results are used to explain trends of increasing scale, concentration and the declining share of independents.