Small and medium-sized French cities facing contemporary challenges in commercial systems and consumption

• Published in: BELGEO (Leuven) Vol. 3
• Main Authors: Chaze, Milhan, Clec’h, Iwan Le
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Belgeo 2024; National Committee of Geography of Belgium, Société Royale Belge de Géographie; Société Royale Belge de Géographie and the Belgian National Committee of Geography
• Subjects: Economics and Finance; France; Geography; Humanities and Social Sciences; mobilities; peri-urbanization; retail trade; rural areas; small and medium-sized cities; mobilités; peri-urbanization; espaces ruraux; shopping practices; villes petites et moyennes; mobilities; small and medium-sized cities; commerce de détail; pratiques d’achats; périurbanisation; e-commerce; France; rural areas; retail trade
• ISSN: 1377-2368; 2294-9135
• DOI: 10.4000/11uch

In the context of significant changes in commerce and consumer practices, such as the e-commerce boom, discount development, increased household mobility, and consumption relocation, small and medium-sized towns are experiencing similar market structure evolutions to those of large conurbations. These changes include the shrinkage of shopping centres and the growth of peripheries and transit trade, which are accompanied by urban structure evolutions, such as peri-urbanization. This article aims to examine the reciprocal effects of urban development and commercial changes in small and medium-sized cities. It is based on French literature in the geography of commerce, as well as related disciplines such as sociology and urbanism. The objective of this article is to present the epistemological evolution of studies on the subject and current key research issues.