ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of literature and research in the area of town center management (TCM), based on work in progress. It looks at the outset that although TCM is a potentially rich subject area for academic writing and research, very little of substance has actually been published or undertaken to date. The chapter reviews academic research interest in the area, particularly as far as this relates to the built environment disciplines. It identifies a number of themes that deserve research attention, but which to date have been somewhat underexplored. Town improvement zones and business improvement districts raise the question of the intellectual legitimacy of the TCM approach if it seeks to place largely arbitrary limits to its geographical territory. The chapter offers some conclusions regarding the role of academic research in relation to the emerging profession.
