The retailing structure of Canadian metropolitan areas : a comparison of central place structure as predictors of inter-metropolitan areas variations in retailing patterns
Date
1975
Authors
Harrison, Peter
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Abstract
The retail sales of twenty-five types of establishment in the forty-five metropolitan areas defined by the 1961 Census are subjected to a principle components analysis to derive a set of independent factors representative of the retail structure of these areas. A similar components analysis is applied to twenty-eight socio-economic variables, chosen on the basis of previous studies, to produce a set of independent socio-economic factors for the same metro areas. On the basis of the factor scores resulting from these analyses, the distinctive regional variations in Canadian metro area retail structure and socio-economic structure are discussed.
In order to test the hypothesis that the retail structure of a metro area can be predicted more accurately by the socioeconomic structure of the area than by its size and location as defined by central place theory, six variables traditionally used in the analysis of central place systems are chosen. A principle components analysis of these variables yields a set of independent factors and factor scores. By regressing the retail structure factor scores against the central place and socio-economic factor scores in turn, the hypothesis is shown .to be substantiated. On the basis of this analysis the conclusion is drawn that the socioeconomic structure of a metro area is a more effective predictor of retail structure than is its size or place in the national hierarchy.