Retail development in Turkey: An account after two decades of shopping malls in the urban scene

Abstract

The social, economic and environmental impacts of large-scale retail outlets on existing retail and urban systems have been extensively discussed in the planning literature. This article documents the last two decades of transformation in Turkey's retail sector, which have been characterized by a more organized development of the sector than traditionally existed. We begin our analysis with the late 1980s and early 1990s, when more-liberal and outward-looking policies began to emerge in Turkish economic policy. Changes in the economy and related legislation prepared a base for the subsequent transformations of that decade, culminating, especially in large cities, in the development of shopping malls as alternative retail spaces to traditional markets and stores on a shopping street. We believe that the Turkish case reveals specific aspects of resistance, adaptation and change, and thus needs a detailed account. After providing a general picture of retailing and its transformation in Turkey, we provide empirical evidence from Ankara, the capital city, through which all important dynamics of retailing are exemplified. To this end, we ask the following questions: What are the evolving processes behind the existing location patterns of shopping centres in Ankara? What is the extent of the change in definition of the new public realm? How do street retailers survive? Who are the actors and what are their approaches towards retail planning in Turkey? The answers to these questions may provide implications for urban policy and retail planning in Turkey. The case may also be interesting for countries experiencing similar patterns of change and development, that is, where the globalization process in retailing and consumption-related sites began later than in other countries and observed fastpaced development. #

The Effect of Liquidity on Financial Performance: Evidence from Turkish Retail Industry

“…The first period between 1990 and 2000 has witnessed the rise of shopping malls, especially in large cities. In the second period between 2000 and 2010, these malls have evolved into more complex marketspaces, and shopping mall investments have extended to smaller cities (Erkip & Ö züduru, 2015). The timing of these periods may be associated with economic liberalization policies and -of course-global trends.…”

Consumer Travel Behaviors and Transport Carbon Emissions: A Comparative Study of Commercial Centers in Shenyang, China

“…Yu et al [48] reported that, although development of local large-scale shopping centers in suburbs and along arterial roads increase citizens' quality of life in terms of shopping convenience, it increases city sprawl and generates high car traffic. Thus, excessive retail development may increase pollution and greenhouse gas emissions [49]. Therefore, we recommend spatial planning that balances regeneration of inner city shopping centers and development of new commercial centers in suburban areas; such planning would optimize urban spatial structure, which, in turn, can effectively reduce carbon emissions.…”

A Comparative Analysis of Fuzzy TOPSIS and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the Location Selection of Shopping Malls: A Case Study from Turkey

“…According to a recent report, the number of shopping malls, which was 12 in 1995, reached 400 as of July 2017 [28]. The increase in population and income, the changing leisure and consumption patterns, the modernity provided by the shopping malls and macro-level changes in the political, economic and social environments of Turkey are seen as the main reasons for this significant increase in the number of shopping malls [25,26,[29][30][31]. As stated by Tabak et al [25], these developments are still continuing and creating a severe competition in the sector.…”

“…As stated by Tabak et al [25], these developments are still continuing and creating a severe competition in the sector. In this framework, investigating the most suitable location for shopping centers represents a difficult task for investors in Turkey [30].Furthermore, from the sustainable development perspective, the economic, environmental and social impacts of shopping malls' locations on retail and urban systems have been well recognized especially in the urban planning literature [29,32,33]. The economic dimension of sustainable development simply indicates that the location of a shopping mall should make it possible to achieve and sustain high profitability in the long term.…”

“…Furthermore, from the sustainable development perspective, the economic, environmental and social impacts of shopping malls' locations on retail and urban systems have been well recognized especially in the urban planning literature [29,32,33]. The economic dimension of sustainable development simply indicates that the location of a shopping mall should make it possible to achieve and sustain high profitability in the long term.…”