Introduction

Retail change is a key element of economic development in many countries, and a powerful driver of consumer and environmental change. Changes that took many decades in Europe or North America have been happening and continue to occur at a much greater speed in a number of emerging economies. We see the growth of large firms, the integration of supply chains, the presentation of wider ranges of goods, and the development of new malls and stores in new locations. The implications of such changes are profound. The urban and cultural landscapes as well as the business landscape are affected. Retailing is part of the everyday fabric of life and changes in it are hugely important for consumer welfare and lifestyles (Cuthbertson et al. 2005). Retail development is bringing a greater, more consistent, better quality supply of basic goods as well as luxuries to more and more people across the globe. The race for economic development and the efforts of governments of all kinds to improve the lot of their citizens are also dependent on the development of the consumer economy. Change can be seen to have both benefits and disadvantages, however, and there are varying interpretations of the significance of the social changes implied in increasing consumption, as well as of the disruptions of economic development. Regulation is often hotly contested in this situation. This is particularly so where foreign firms enter new markets as part of their internationalization strategies. We want in this book to explore what is happening in a variety of rapidly changing economies, and especially to look at the interplay between retail business and regulation. Our aim is to understand similarities and differences across countries.