Small Retailing, Town Centers and Inland Territories. An “Extended Town Centre Management” Perspective

Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing the public policies that can be adopted in order to support small retail firms located in town centers and countryside small towns. The role of small retailing has been recognized for the preservation of an economic, social and cultural identity of both town centers and rural/mountain areas. The field of this analysis is more extended than that covered by the Town Centre Management (TCM) literature that is mainly focused on city centers. In this case the study is also addressed to smaller towns and inland areas. A case study of an Italian province has been conducted with the objective to underline the main factors that need to be considered by local administrators for the adoption of coordinated policies.