CEP Public Events
SUPERMARKETS AND THE BRITISH HIGH STREET: The unintended consequences of planning regulations
Raffaella Sadun (Harvard Business School), joint with Amelia Fletcher (Office of Fair Trading), Lucy Neville-Rolfe (Tesco PLC), Graeme Willis (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
Thursday 25 September 2008 19:00 - 20:30
LSE BOX, 5th Floor, Tower 3, LSE, 3 Clement's Inn, Mobil Court, WC2A 2AZ
About this event
In 1996, new regulations made it much harder for UK supermarkets and other retailers to develop out-of-town outlets - so-called ‘big boxes’. In part, these regulations were supposed to ‘save the traditional British High Street’ by protecting small retailers. New research by Dr Raffaella Sadun of the Centre for Economic Performance finds that they have actually accelerated the decline of independent stores.
SUPERMARKETS AND THE BRITISH HIGH STREET: The unintended consequences of planning regulations
A public discussion
Date: Thursday 25 September 2008
Time: 19.00 - 20.30
Venue: LSE BOX, 5th Floor, LSE Tower 3, Clement's Inn (off Aldwych), London WC2A 2AZ - map and directions
If you would like to attend, please email Jo Cantlay (j.m.cantlay@lse.ac.uk) with your name and contact details by 10.30am on Thursday 25 September and she will reserve you a place.
SPEAKER:
- Raffaella Sadun, Centre for Economic Performance
PANEL:
- Amelia Fletcher, Office of Fair Trading, Chief Economist
- Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco PLC, Executive Director Corporate & Legal Affairs
- Graeme Willis, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Rural Policy Campaigner
In 1996, new regulations made it much harder for UK supermarkets and other retailers to develop out-of-town outlets – so-called ‘big boxes’. In part, these regulations were supposed to ‘save the traditional British High Street’ by protecting small retailers. New research by Dr Raffaella Sadun of the Centre for Economic Performance finds that they have actually accelerated the decline of independent stores.
Her study reveals that big boxes may actually be good news for ‘mom-and-pop’ stores. In parts of the country where more big boxes were given planning permission, fewer small stores have been forced out of business. At the same time, the fewer big boxes allowed by councils, the more small chain stores were introduced – and the more independent retailers have suffered. Dr Sadun will summarise the findings of her research and the panel will then be invited to respond.
This event will take place from 7.00pm in LSE’s BOX, located on the 5th Floor of LSE Tower 3, Clement’s Inn, London WC2A 2AZ and will be followed at 8.30pm by a drinks reception. If you would like to attend, please email Jo Cantlay (j.m.cantlay@lse.ac.uk) with your name and contact details by 10.30am on Thursday 25 September, and she will reserve you a place.
Related publications:
Dr Sadun's research will be published as the lead article, 'Does Planning Regulation Protect Independent Retailers?', in the forthcomiong edition of CentrePiece (Vol 13/2), to be published online on Monday 6 October 2008 - Go to CentrePiece webpage
'Does Planning Regulation Protect Independent Retailers?' by Raffaella Sadun, Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No. 888, August 2008
Participants are expected to adhere to the CEP Events Code of Conduct.
Directions
This event will take place in LSE BOX, 5th Floor, Tower 3, LSE, 3 Clement's Inn, Mobil Court, WC2A 2AZ.