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Murray Rice

University of North Texas, Geography, Faculty Member

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Phone: Phone: (940) 565-3861
Address: Department of Geography
University of North Texas
1155 Union Circle #305279
Denton, TX 76203-5017
USA

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Papers by Murray Rice

Evaluating determinants of shale gas well locations in an urban setting

The Annals of Regional Science

An infatuation with building things: Business strategies, linkages, and small city economic development in Manitoba

Growth and Change

Defining the Record of High-Growth Firms by U.S. Metropolitan Region: What Happens to the Inc. 500?

SSRN Electronic Journal

Dominant National Centers: A Comparative Analysis of the Headquarters Communities of New York and Toronto

This paper analyzes and compares the headquarters communities of the two dominant, national corpo... more This paper analyzes and compares the headquarters communities of the two dominant, national corporate centers in North America. As the pre-eminent cities of their respective countries, New York and Toronto fulfill an important role within their national urban and economic systems. Both cities host businesses and institutions that determine and symbolize the direction of their respective national economies. The analysis of Toronto and New York examines recent trends in the growth and change of the headquarters hosted by the two cities. The results show that the cities are comparable in some ways, such as in their common dominance among the financial institutions of their countries. However, in other ways the headquarters community in each appears to be following distinct paths, as in the distinctive location tendencies of the most rapidly-growing firms in the two cities. The paper presents an analysis and comparison of the corporate community in each city, and provides some interpretation as to the meaning of the results for further development of theory in economic geography.

Regional and sectoral growth in Canada’s emerging economy

The Canadian Journal of Regional Science La Revue Canadienne Des Sciences Regionales, Mar 3, 2004

Despite years of attention by federal and provinciallevels of government, Canada continues to be ... more Despite years of attention by federal and provinciallevels of government, Canada continues to be marked by a concentration of economic activity in a select few urban regions. Although govemment policies, programs, and agencies over the past decades have focused on many aspects ofencouraging economic development in Canada, the distinct geographic character of economic activity has been one of the most enduring issues vexing public policy makers. Regional economic devel opment agencies such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Western Economie Diversification Canada, and their predecessors, have been established by the federal government specifically to address long-standing issues related to natural resource dependence and the consequent lack of diversification in many of Canada's regional economies. This paper focuses attention on business conununi ties and economic development in Canada's regions. Regional scientists in Canada have demonstrated a high level ofinterest in the linked issues of regional growth and diversification (Polèse 2000; Polèse and Sheannur 2002). One aspect ofrecent work in regional science that relates directly to the level of development, diversification, and control resident in regional econo mies is research into the location and distribution of advanced administration functions and high-level support services. Numerous studies over the past decades have established the ongoing metropolitan orientation of head offices and information-intensive services in North America (Semple 1973, 1996; Klier and Testa 2002). A large-city bias has endured in head office location over the de cades, but this has not been unaccompanied by change in business locations. A variety of researchers (Semple 1973; Lyons 1994; Klier and Testa 2002) have demonstrated an ongoing dispersion ofhead office activities throughout the United States from the 1950s to the 1990s. Similar observations have been made for Canada, although the Canadian urban system has been much slower than its US counterpart in distributing head office activities throughout its regions. For exam pie, Meyer and Green (2003) show that in 2000 the top four head office centres in

An exploration of alternative food desert definitions in south Dallas

Evolving Business Centres in Canada: The Establishment versus The Next Wave

Regional economic disparities are characteristic of Canada. Southern Ontario and Quebec have long... more Regional economic disparities are characteristic of Canada. Southern Ontario and Quebec have long been the home of many of the businesses that dominate the country's economy, while business centres in the other regions of the country have played a lesser role in all but a few economic sectors. This paper studies the evolution of Canada's system of business centres by contrasting the locational patterns of headquarters for two groups of businesses: the largest businesses in the country, the Canadian Establishment, and the fastest-growing businesses in the country, the Next Wave. The results show that while the country's core region dominates both groups, the Next Wave is most highly attracted to suburban locations in the national core. The Canadian Establishment is dominated by central-city locations in Toronto and Montreal, as expected, but is also more spatially dispersed than the Next Wave at a provincial level of analysis. The paper provides a number of perspectives on these spatial distributions and suggests that the findings have meaning for the further development of business location theory.

Alberta's Manufacturers: Workforce Challenges and Strategies

Canadian manufacturers contend with a number of competitive challenges within a rapidly changing ... more Canadian manufacturers contend with a number of competitive challenges within a rapidly changing global market. Among these are the present and projected shortages of skilled workers who are critical to the success of secondary sector firms that increasingly utilize advanced manufacturing technologies. The recent boom in Alberta's economy has exacerbated an already critical national workforce situation. Evidence from a recent survey of manufacturers suggests that the skilled labour issue is a far more salient problem for manufacturers in Alberta than for most of Canada. The shortage of skilled workers ranks, by far, as the most important competitive concern for Alberta manufacturers. This issue appears to have limited growth for many firms from this province, to a higher degree than seen elsewhere in the country. This paper also explores the extent of the human capital shortage in manufacturing and the strategies that firms are using to address this challenge.

Industrial waste management improvement: a case study of Pennsylvania

International Perspectives on Industrial Ecology, 2015

Can you really get there from here? A case study of walkability at Mockingbird Station in Dallas, Texas

This paper argues that in order to determine the accessibility of a neighborhood for pedestrians,... more This paper argues that in order to determine the accessibility of a neighborhood for pedestrians, a range of factors must be explored – several of which have been under-utilized in existing accessibility indices. In order to investigate this, the Mockingbird Station transit-oriented development in Dallas, Texas is used to assess two questions: are basic needs provided by businesses in the neighborhood, and are these businesses accessible to pedestrians? This paper argues that different arrangements of businesses and pedestrian infrastructure can impact the walkability of a neighborhood, suggesting that pedestrian accessibility indices should include business composition and pedestrian infrastructure where possible.

Retail location, clustering, and local economic development: A case study of Port Huron, MI

Retail geography is a research field with applied linkages to the interests of businesses and gov... more Retail geography is a research field with applied linkages to the interests of businesses and governments alike. This paper examines Port Huron, Michigan as a Midwestern city whose retail experience provides an opportunity to observe the direct impacts of shopping mall development on an existing regional matrix of service activity. Local governments and urban planners will find this case study to be of interest with regards to mall impacts when concerned with mitigating the impacts of new retail developments in similar urban situations. Our study shows that certain business types grew in the downtown area of Port Huron following the development of a suburban mall in the region, and indicates that such business types could become the focus of revitalization programs to keep original business districts thriving. Business owners and consultants can benefit from a greater understanding of the dynamics reshaping the retail landscapes associated with new shopping developments.

Urban Economies and Development - An Editorial Introduction

Geography Research Forum

This issue brings together two important areas of research in modern human ge- ography: the inves... more This issue brings together two important areas of research in modern human ge- ography: the investigation of spatial variation and change in cities, and the location and development of economic activity. Urban-economic analysis continues to be a vital and growing area of geography, in large part because the issues addressed within this study area are directly relevant to both the threats and opportunities that face human societies today. Cities are hosts to an ever-increasing proportion of the world's population, and as such are the prime venues for emerging issues of concern such as overcrowding, economic deprivation, poverty, joblessness, environmental degradation, and diseconomies of scale associated with rapid urban development. At the same time as these unambiguously negative effects have emerged in cities, urban areas have also become focal points for the forces of globalization that have created a world economy that is increasingly interlinked, for good and for ill - in T...

Retail change and light rail: An exploration of business location changes accompanying commuter rail development in Denton, Texas

This study examines the business impacts associated with the A-Train commuter rail development in... more This study examines the business impacts associated with the A-Train commuter rail development in Denton County, Texas. The A-Train line is a 21-mile light rail corridor connecting the suburban city of Denton with the light rail system of Dallas. This study specifically focuses on impacts related to the A-Train terminal opening in the center of Denton, addressing the changing location and composition of the business community situated around the terminal and the nearby courthouse square, which is the historical central business district for the City of Denton. While this is an exploratory study, and more work is planned to examine the location dynamics of more stations and business types along Denton County's A-Train line, the findings presented here can be of value in providing some initial guidance for economic development officials, corporate decision-makers, and business geography researchers alike.

Regional Information and Influence Regional Information and Influence Regional Information and Influence Regional Information and Influence Network Network Network Networksss S: : : : The Geography of Corporate Board Membership in Texas the Geography of Corporate Board Membership in Texas the Geo...

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Texas plays a key role in the United States economy. Its status as an economic ... more ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Texas plays a key role in the United States economy. Its status as an economic driver in the national energy and agriculture sectors is unquestioned. However, the state has always found itself confronted by its geographic separation from the economic core regions of the northeastern United States. The question arises as to how well Texas has been able to connect its business community with these core regions, both to influence external business decisions and to gather important business information. The research presented here analyzes the inter-urban business network established by corporations as they invite executives from other firms and places to serve on their corporate boards. Study results show that Texas-based firms are extensively connected with selected businesses and cities in this national network, but that firms in Texas' two dominant business centers, Dallas and Houston, appear to be following contrasting strategies in using this network. The an...

Locating Community Health Care Centres in Rural Saskatchewan: The Case of the Living Sky Health District

Healthcare Management Forum, 1995

Using the Living Sky Health District in rural Saskatchewan as a sample case, this paper illustrat... more Using the Living Sky Health District in rural Saskatchewan as a sample case, this paper illustrates and discusses the use of location theory modelling tools as an aid to achieving high levels of efficiency coupled with administrator-determined levels of access. The paper begins by examining access issues as they affect location decisions. One of the empirical pillars of the paper is the well-documented idea that people will travel great distances in situations of acute circumstances, but are unwilling to travel far for important preventive care and monitoring of some chronic conditions. The study continues by presenting a non-technical overview of location theory which demonstrates the applicability of location modelling to the present problem; several possible location scenarios for Living Sky Health District are calculated, the most appropriate of which will depend on the goals and priorities of the district board. Finally, the study's results and more general conclusions are ...

Economic Geography By William P. Anderson London and New York: Routledge, 2012

Economic Geography, 2013

Exploring the Personal Histories of the Top Executives of US Firms Using a Quantitative Approach: Is There a Geographical Relationship with Corporate Headquarters, and Does It Influence Firm Performance?

Geographical Research, Mar 1, 2013

This paper analyses where top executives were born and where they attended university to uncover ... more This paper analyses where top executives were born and where they attended university to uncover regional groupings of the most influential executives that shape corporate culture and strategy in the United States. Within the context of this paper, it is argued that the personal histories of top executives influence their decision-making abilities, and thus corporate culture. It was found that intra-regional, intra-state, and intra-city links were noteworthy factors in executive selection. Distances were higher, and percentages of ...

Perspectives on an Evolving Research Field: Location Intelligence and Its Representation at the Applied Geography Conferences, 1978 to 2012

Geography has an established relevance to many of the most important challenges facing society ac... more Geography has an established relevance to many of the most important
challenges facing society across the human–environmental spectrum.
Among many areas of application, geography has a historical record of
connecting location concepts, tools, and expertise to the key planning and operational issues confronting business and other institutions in society. This article examines the context for applied geographic research falling within this location intelligence sphere, and profiles the body of research in this field published at the Applied Geography Conferences over its first thirty-five years. Our analysis shows that although location intelligence has had an ongoing representation at the conference, its presence has fluctuated greatly. The disciplinary profile developed here tracks the shifting emphasis of location intelligence research and its relation to broader, real-world needs. We conclude by interpreting these findings and making recommendations related to increased self-assessment and repositioning of research in the location intelligence community.

Decoding the Development Strategy of a Major Retailer: Wal-Mart's Expansion in the United States

This research aims to provide insight regarding Wal-Mart’s retail development strategy in its exp... more This research aims to provide insight regarding Wal-Mart’s retail development strategy in its expansion across the continental United States. The study examines store location patterns and relationships between Wal-Mart’s store and distribution center locations and markets. The study shows that, although radial expansion is broadly characteristic of the dense store patterns that have been well established for Wal-Mart at the national level, expansion patterns at the regional level are consistent with a selective process based on factors other than store density. These results provide a new perspective on Wal-Mart’s expansion, providing insights of value to retail practitioners and local government. Key Words: distribution center location, location
intelligence, retail chain expansion, store location, Wal-Mart.

Fast-growing firms as elements of change in Canada’s headquarters city system

by Murray Rice and Sean O'Hagan

This research explores the factors that shape the evolving geographic distribution of business he... more This research explores the factors that shape the evolving geographic distribution of business headquarters (HQ) activity. We address an understudied influence on HQ geographies: metropolitan HQ changes driven by the process of small, rapidly expanding businesses growing into mature companies. This investigation focuses on the developmental paths followed by fast-growing firms (FGFs) and the geographic distinctions that can be observed in a FGF tracking study of Canada’s metropolitan regions from 1987 to 2005. Our research findings indicate that geography plays an important role in this development, as FGF tracking records throughout Canada’s metropolitan areas diverge sharply. We find that most FGFs that emerged in Vancouver and Toronto continued as ongoing businesses following their rapid growth phase, while a high proportion of FGFs based in Montréal and Calgary did not. These results contribute to a greater understanding of metropolitan economies, business development, and HQ location in Canada

Evaluating determinants of shale gas well locations in an urban setting

The Annals of Regional Science

An infatuation with building things: Business strategies, linkages, and small city economic development in Manitoba

Growth and Change

Defining the Record of High-Growth Firms by U.S. Metropolitan Region: What Happens to the Inc. 500?

SSRN Electronic Journal

Dominant National Centers: A Comparative Analysis of the Headquarters Communities of New York and Toronto

This paper analyzes and compares the headquarters communities of the two dominant, national corpo... more This paper analyzes and compares the headquarters communities of the two dominant, national corporate centers in North America. As the pre-eminent cities of their respective countries, New York and Toronto fulfill an important role within their national urban and economic systems. Both cities host businesses and institutions that determine and symbolize the direction of their respective national economies. The analysis of Toronto and New York examines recent trends in the growth and change of the headquarters hosted by the two cities. The results show that the cities are comparable in some ways, such as in their common dominance among the financial institutions of their countries. However, in other ways the headquarters community in each appears to be following distinct paths, as in the distinctive location tendencies of the most rapidly-growing firms in the two cities. The paper presents an analysis and comparison of the corporate community in each city, and provides some interpretation as to the meaning of the results for further development of theory in economic geography.

Regional and sectoral growth in Canada’s emerging economy

The Canadian Journal of Regional Science La Revue Canadienne Des Sciences Regionales, Mar 3, 2004

Despite years of attention by federal and provinciallevels of government, Canada continues to be ... more Despite years of attention by federal and provinciallevels of government, Canada continues to be marked by a concentration of economic activity in a select few urban regions. Although govemment policies, programs, and agencies over the past decades have focused on many aspects ofencouraging economic development in Canada, the distinct geographic character of economic activity has been one of the most enduring issues vexing public policy makers. Regional economic devel opment agencies such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Western Economie Diversification Canada, and their predecessors, have been established by the federal government specifically to address long-standing issues related to natural resource dependence and the consequent lack of diversification in many of Canada's regional economies. This paper focuses attention on business conununi ties and economic development in Canada's regions. Regional scientists in Canada have demonstrated a high level ofinterest in the linked issues of regional growth and diversification (Polèse 2000; Polèse and Sheannur 2002). One aspect ofrecent work in regional science that relates directly to the level of development, diversification, and control resident in regional econo mies is research into the location and distribution of advanced administration functions and high-level support services. Numerous studies over the past decades have established the ongoing metropolitan orientation of head offices and information-intensive services in North America (Semple 1973, 1996; Klier and Testa 2002). A large-city bias has endured in head office location over the de cades, but this has not been unaccompanied by change in business locations. A variety of researchers (Semple 1973; Lyons 1994; Klier and Testa 2002) have demonstrated an ongoing dispersion ofhead office activities throughout the United States from the 1950s to the 1990s. Similar observations have been made for Canada, although the Canadian urban system has been much slower than its US counterpart in distributing head office activities throughout its regions. For exam pie, Meyer and Green (2003) show that in 2000 the top four head office centres in

An exploration of alternative food desert definitions in south Dallas

Evolving Business Centres in Canada: The Establishment versus The Next Wave

Regional economic disparities are characteristic of Canada. Southern Ontario and Quebec have long... more Regional economic disparities are characteristic of Canada. Southern Ontario and Quebec have long been the home of many of the businesses that dominate the country's economy, while business centres in the other regions of the country have played a lesser role in all but a few economic sectors. This paper studies the evolution of Canada's system of business centres by contrasting the locational patterns of headquarters for two groups of businesses: the largest businesses in the country, the Canadian Establishment, and the fastest-growing businesses in the country, the Next Wave. The results show that while the country's core region dominates both groups, the Next Wave is most highly attracted to suburban locations in the national core. The Canadian Establishment is dominated by central-city locations in Toronto and Montreal, as expected, but is also more spatially dispersed than the Next Wave at a provincial level of analysis. The paper provides a number of perspectives on these spatial distributions and suggests that the findings have meaning for the further development of business location theory.

Alberta's Manufacturers: Workforce Challenges and Strategies

Canadian manufacturers contend with a number of competitive challenges within a rapidly changing ... more Canadian manufacturers contend with a number of competitive challenges within a rapidly changing global market. Among these are the present and projected shortages of skilled workers who are critical to the success of secondary sector firms that increasingly utilize advanced manufacturing technologies. The recent boom in Alberta's economy has exacerbated an already critical national workforce situation. Evidence from a recent survey of manufacturers suggests that the skilled labour issue is a far more salient problem for manufacturers in Alberta than for most of Canada. The shortage of skilled workers ranks, by far, as the most important competitive concern for Alberta manufacturers. This issue appears to have limited growth for many firms from this province, to a higher degree than seen elsewhere in the country. This paper also explores the extent of the human capital shortage in manufacturing and the strategies that firms are using to address this challenge.

Industrial waste management improvement: a case study of Pennsylvania

International Perspectives on Industrial Ecology, 2015

Can you really get there from here? A case study of walkability at Mockingbird Station in Dallas, Texas

This paper argues that in order to determine the accessibility of a neighborhood for pedestrians,... more This paper argues that in order to determine the accessibility of a neighborhood for pedestrians, a range of factors must be explored – several of which have been under-utilized in existing accessibility indices. In order to investigate this, the Mockingbird Station transit-oriented development in Dallas, Texas is used to assess two questions: are basic needs provided by businesses in the neighborhood, and are these businesses accessible to pedestrians? This paper argues that different arrangements of businesses and pedestrian infrastructure can impact the walkability of a neighborhood, suggesting that pedestrian accessibility indices should include business composition and pedestrian infrastructure where possible.

Retail location, clustering, and local economic development: A case study of Port Huron, MI

Retail geography is a research field with applied linkages to the interests of businesses and gov... more Retail geography is a research field with applied linkages to the interests of businesses and governments alike. This paper examines Port Huron, Michigan as a Midwestern city whose retail experience provides an opportunity to observe the direct impacts of shopping mall development on an existing regional matrix of service activity. Local governments and urban planners will find this case study to be of interest with regards to mall impacts when concerned with mitigating the impacts of new retail developments in similar urban situations. Our study shows that certain business types grew in the downtown area of Port Huron following the development of a suburban mall in the region, and indicates that such business types could become the focus of revitalization programs to keep original business districts thriving. Business owners and consultants can benefit from a greater understanding of the dynamics reshaping the retail landscapes associated with new shopping developments.

Urban Economies and Development - An Editorial Introduction

Geography Research Forum

This issue brings together two important areas of research in modern human ge- ography: the inves... more This issue brings together two important areas of research in modern human ge- ography: the investigation of spatial variation and change in cities, and the location and development of economic activity. Urban-economic analysis continues to be a vital and growing area of geography, in large part because the issues addressed within this study area are directly relevant to both the threats and opportunities that face human societies today. Cities are hosts to an ever-increasing proportion of the world's population, and as such are the prime venues for emerging issues of concern such as overcrowding, economic deprivation, poverty, joblessness, environmental degradation, and diseconomies of scale associated with rapid urban development. At the same time as these unambiguously negative effects have emerged in cities, urban areas have also become focal points for the forces of globalization that have created a world economy that is increasingly interlinked, for good and for ill - in T...

Retail change and light rail: An exploration of business location changes accompanying commuter rail development in Denton, Texas

This study examines the business impacts associated with the A-Train commuter rail development in... more This study examines the business impacts associated with the A-Train commuter rail development in Denton County, Texas. The A-Train line is a 21-mile light rail corridor connecting the suburban city of Denton with the light rail system of Dallas. This study specifically focuses on impacts related to the A-Train terminal opening in the center of Denton, addressing the changing location and composition of the business community situated around the terminal and the nearby courthouse square, which is the historical central business district for the City of Denton. While this is an exploratory study, and more work is planned to examine the location dynamics of more stations and business types along Denton County's A-Train line, the findings presented here can be of value in providing some initial guidance for economic development officials, corporate decision-makers, and business geography researchers alike.

Regional Information and Influence Regional Information and Influence Regional Information and Influence Regional Information and Influence Network Network Network Networksss S: : : : The Geography of Corporate Board Membership in Texas the Geography of Corporate Board Membership in Texas the Geo...

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Texas plays a key role in the United States economy. Its status as an economic ... more ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Texas plays a key role in the United States economy. Its status as an economic driver in the national energy and agriculture sectors is unquestioned. However, the state has always found itself confronted by its geographic separation from the economic core regions of the northeastern United States. The question arises as to how well Texas has been able to connect its business community with these core regions, both to influence external business decisions and to gather important business information. The research presented here analyzes the inter-urban business network established by corporations as they invite executives from other firms and places to serve on their corporate boards. Study results show that Texas-based firms are extensively connected with selected businesses and cities in this national network, but that firms in Texas' two dominant business centers, Dallas and Houston, appear to be following contrasting strategies in using this network. The an...

Locating Community Health Care Centres in Rural Saskatchewan: The Case of the Living Sky Health District

Healthcare Management Forum, 1995

Using the Living Sky Health District in rural Saskatchewan as a sample case, this paper illustrat... more Using the Living Sky Health District in rural Saskatchewan as a sample case, this paper illustrates and discusses the use of location theory modelling tools as an aid to achieving high levels of efficiency coupled with administrator-determined levels of access. The paper begins by examining access issues as they affect location decisions. One of the empirical pillars of the paper is the well-documented idea that people will travel great distances in situations of acute circumstances, but are unwilling to travel far for important preventive care and monitoring of some chronic conditions. The study continues by presenting a non-technical overview of location theory which demonstrates the applicability of location modelling to the present problem; several possible location scenarios for Living Sky Health District are calculated, the most appropriate of which will depend on the goals and priorities of the district board. Finally, the study's results and more general conclusions are ...

Economic Geography By William P. Anderson London and New York: Routledge, 2012

Economic Geography, 2013

Exploring the Personal Histories of the Top Executives of US Firms Using a Quantitative Approach: Is There a Geographical Relationship with Corporate Headquarters, and Does It Influence Firm Performance?

Geographical Research, Mar 1, 2013

This paper analyses where top executives were born and where they attended university to uncover ... more This paper analyses where top executives were born and where they attended university to uncover regional groupings of the most influential executives that shape corporate culture and strategy in the United States. Within the context of this paper, it is argued that the personal histories of top executives influence their decision-making abilities, and thus corporate culture. It was found that intra-regional, intra-state, and intra-city links were noteworthy factors in executive selection. Distances were higher, and percentages of ...

Perspectives on an Evolving Research Field: Location Intelligence and Its Representation at the Applied Geography Conferences, 1978 to 2012

Geography has an established relevance to many of the most important challenges facing society ac... more Geography has an established relevance to many of the most important
challenges facing society across the human–environmental spectrum.
Among many areas of application, geography has a historical record of
connecting location concepts, tools, and expertise to the key planning and operational issues confronting business and other institutions in society. This article examines the context for applied geographic research falling within this location intelligence sphere, and profiles the body of research in this field published at the Applied Geography Conferences over its first thirty-five years. Our analysis shows that although location intelligence has had an ongoing representation at the conference, its presence has fluctuated greatly. The disciplinary profile developed here tracks the shifting emphasis of location intelligence research and its relation to broader, real-world needs. We conclude by interpreting these findings and making recommendations related to increased self-assessment and repositioning of research in the location intelligence community.

Decoding the Development Strategy of a Major Retailer: Wal-Mart's Expansion in the United States

This research aims to provide insight regarding Wal-Mart’s retail development strategy in its exp... more This research aims to provide insight regarding Wal-Mart’s retail development strategy in its expansion across the continental United States. The study examines store location patterns and relationships between Wal-Mart’s store and distribution center locations and markets. The study shows that, although radial expansion is broadly characteristic of the dense store patterns that have been well established for Wal-Mart at the national level, expansion patterns at the regional level are consistent with a selective process based on factors other than store density. These results provide a new perspective on Wal-Mart’s expansion, providing insights of value to retail practitioners and local government. Key Words: distribution center location, location
intelligence, retail chain expansion, store location, Wal-Mart.

Fast-growing firms as elements of change in Canada’s headquarters city system

by Murray Rice and Sean O'Hagan

This research explores the factors that shape the evolving geographic distribution of business he... more This research explores the factors that shape the evolving geographic distribution of business headquarters (HQ) activity. We address an understudied influence on HQ geographies: metropolitan HQ changes driven by the process of small, rapidly expanding businesses growing into mature companies. This investigation focuses on the developmental paths followed by fast-growing firms (FGFs) and the geographic distinctions that can be observed in a FGF tracking study of Canada’s metropolitan regions from 1987 to 2005. Our research findings indicate that geography plays an important role in this development, as FGF tracking records throughout Canada’s metropolitan areas diverge sharply. We find that most FGFs that emerged in Vancouver and Toronto continued as ongoing businesses following their rapid growth phase, while a high proportion of FGFs based in Montréal and Calgary did not. These results contribute to a greater understanding of metropolitan economies, business development, and HQ location in Canada