A PDF-based analysis of the spatial structure of retailing

The present paper proposes a new method for analyzing the spatial structure of retailing, using microscale locational data of individual retail stores. The method is based on the probability density function (PDF) of stores estimated from their locational data, and consequently it is applicable to both micro- and macro-scale retail analyses. The PDF approach provides a set of quantitative methods that permit us (1) to measure the degree of agglomeration, (2) to classify spatial patterns of store location, (3) to analyze the relationship between the size and function of retail agglomerations, and (4) to analyze the spatial structure of retail agglomeration. An empirical study is performed to test the validity of the method, and some empirical findings are shown. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.