Conclusions

The four research surveys presented in this book have shown where existing work in retail geography has been concentrated and have indicated some of the major gaps in research into the spatial aspects of retailing. The essays have concentrated on research into modern Western-style retailing and because of the availability of published material the reviews have also focused on British, North American and Australian research. One point to emerge forcefully from the surveys is the lack of published work in English on spatial aspects of retailing in mainland Europe. Comparative studies within Europe have advanced only slightly since the pioneering publications by Jefferys and Knee (1962) and Hall, Knapp and Winsten (1961). Many of the spatial processes active in retailing are probably common, although modified in different ways, to North America and Europe and certainly there would seem scope for more substantive comparative studies.