Betancourt (economics, University of Maryland) provides a uniform approach to the analysis of distribution systems in general and retail systems in particular in this work for economists
interested in industrial organization, marketing, and applied microeconomics. The author demonstrates that the provision of distribution services is a determinant of economic outcomes in retail
exchanges. He integrates existing literature with new applications to provide novel insights into the multi-product nature of retailing, the service aspects of packaging, and the evolution of
retail formats such as supermarkets, non-store retailers, and shopping centers. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
