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An Evolutionary Perspective on Internet Adoption by Retailers in the Netherlands

Author

Listed:
  • Ron A Boschma

    (Department of Economic Geography, Faculty of GeoSciences, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands;)

  • Jesse W J Weltevreden

    (Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research (RPB), PO Box 30314, 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands;)

Abstract

The paper analyses from an evolutionary perspective how retailers respond and adapt to business-to-customer e-commerce. As such, the paper explores the diverse behavior of retailers with respect to the adoption of e-commerce. In particular, it empirically examines the extent to which the adoption of Internet strategies is affected by firm-specific features (eg habit of entrepreneur, routines of firms), network relationships, and geographical proximity. Logistic regression analyses of 643 independent retailers in the Netherlands suggest that geography matters, when other factors are controlled for. That is, the probability of having an Internet strategy increases significantly (a) when more relevant knowledge is locally available; (b) the more demanding local customers are; and (c) the less rivalry is present locally.

Suggested Citation

  • Ron A Boschma & Jesse W J Weltevreden, 2008. "An Evolutionary Perspective on Internet Adoption by Retailers in the Netherlands," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 40(9), pages 2222-2237, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:40:y:2008:i:9:p:2222-2237
    DOI: 10.1068/a3972
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    Cited by:

    1. Freathy, Paul & Calderwood, Eric, 2013. "The impact of internet adoption upon the shopping behaviour of island residents," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 111-119.
    2. Neiberger Cordula & Mensing Matthias & Kubon Jonas, 2020. "Geographische Handelsforschung im Zeitalter der Digitalisierung: Eine Bestandsaufnahme," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 64(4), pages 197-210, November.
    3. Calderwood, Eric & Freathy, Paul, 2014. "Consumer mobility in the Scottish isles: The impact of internet adoption upon retail travel patterns," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 192-203.
    4. Beckers, Joris & Weekx, Simon & Beutels, Philippe & Verhetsel, Ann, 2021. "COVID-19 and retail: The catalyst for e-commerce in Belgium?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    5. Rovira, Sebastián & Santoleri, Pietro & Stumpo, Giovanni, 2013. "Incorporación de TIC en el sector productivo: uso y desuso de las políticas públicas para favorecer su difusión," Sede de la CEPAL en Santiago (Estudios e Investigaciones) 37255, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    6. Beckers, Joris & Cárdenas, Ivan & Verhetsel, Ann, 2018. "Identifying the geography of online shopping adoption in Belgium," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 33-41.
    7. Jonas, Tim & Macht, Gretchen A., 2024. "Analyzing the urban-rural divide: Understanding geographic variations in charging behavior for a user-centered EVSE infrastructure," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    8. Maria del Rosario Demuner Flores & Osvaldo Urbano Becerril Torres & Rosa Maria Nava Rogel, 2014. "INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN SMEs MEXICAN COMPANIES TECNOLOGIAS DE INFORMACION Y COMUNICACION EN PYMES MEXICANAS," Revista Global de Negocios, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 2(3), pages 15-27.
    9. Fan Wang & Mingfeng Wang & Shichen Yuan, 2021. "Spatial Diffusion of E-Commerce in China’s Counties: Based on the Perspective of Regional Inequality," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Elms, Jonathan & de Kervenoael, Ronan & Hallsworth, Alan, 2016. "Internet or store? An ethnographic study of consumers' internet and store-based grocery shopping practices," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 234-243.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General

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