Date of Award
Summer 8-1-2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Geography, Geology, and Anthropology
Abstract
As the world's largest retailer, the Wal-Mart Corporation exemplifies unsurpassed store location strategy. The purpose of this study is to identify socio-economic indicators of store location and to determine whether they vary spatially across the United States. First, a linear regression model is employed to identify key socio-economic variables that associate with store location in four regions of the United States. The study includes analyses of Georgia, Indiana, New York, and Washington, which represent the southeast, midwest, northeast and west, respectively. Discriminant and cluster analyses are used to investigate whether there are spatial variations in Wal-Mart location. The results of the study indicate that the reverse hierarchical expansion strategy exists nationwide, but as a selective phenomena. Of the four states analyzed, Indiana and Georgia have distinct socio-economic indicators for store location. The northeast does not, seemingly due to longstanding, established retail activity. Washington is the most anomalous to Wal-Mart store location due to the association with less advantaged communities.
Recommended Citation
Franklin, Clint H., "Spatial Variations in Wal-Mart Store Location" (2003). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3352.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/3352
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