Public Transport and the Decline of the Traditional Retail Sector in South Africa
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Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Human Ecology
Abstract
This paper reports the results of an investigation of the impact of recent developments in public
transport on the traditional retail sector. Data collection was carried out based on four towns in the Eastern Cape
Province selected on the basis of having a significant consumer market. For each of these centres, three localities
located in 25-35-45kilometre radii were selected and in each of these, a random sample of 50 households was
interviewed about their income distribution, shopping patterns, patronage of retail outlets and access to public
transport. The data was analysed using frequency distributions and correlation. The findings indicate that access to
public transport plays an indirect but critical role in the shopping patterns of households. The decline of the
traditional retail sector has been facilitated by developments in transport and changing consumption trends at
local, regional and global scales.
Description
Keywords
Household Shopping Patterns, Trip Frequencies, Passenger Transport, Economic Growth
Citation
Ruhiiga, T. M. (2012). Public transport and the decline of the traditional retail sector in South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology, 39(1), 49-60.