The Cost of Shopping: Measuring Virtual and Physical Access for Obtaining Goods
The Cost of Shopping: Measuring Virtual and Physical Access for Obtaining Goods
Recently published:
Chen, Jing, Cui, Mengying, and Levinson, D. (2024) The Cost of Shopping: Measuring Virtual and Physical Access for Obtaining Goods. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment. No. 1. 129-145 [doi]
Abstract
The rise of e-commerce, bolstered by advances in information and communication technology (ICT), has made it possible for consumers to shop online without the need to physically travel. The unexpected emergence of COVID-19 further accelerated this shift towards online shopping. This paper compares virtual versus physical access to goods, drawing from dual access theory. It aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the disparities in accessibility between digital and brick-and-mortar shopping experiences. Our results indicate that, when considering the complete private costs — including the intrinsic costs of shopping and those incurred en-route like travel and delivery fees — online shopping typically offers greater accessibility and is more cost-effective than its in-store counterpart. While physical access to shopping displays a pattern where the central city has a distinct advantage over the suburbs, virtual access presents a more uniform distribution throughout the city.
Keywords
Accessibility; Online VS in-store shopping; Physical VS virtual; Dual access; Wuhan city; COVID-19.
