India’s Emerging Retail Systems: Coexistence of Tradition and Modernity

Abstract

India’s retailing sector is expected to remain in a transition spiral for the foreseeable future. Because of India’s unique context – in terms of history, regulation, institutions, demographics, geography, and traditions – there is limited applicability of the available theories of retail evolution to the retail situation in India. Drawing from the literature as well as from empirical research and practical experiences of over a decade, this paper presents a conceptual frame for understanding the retail sector of India and the likely future trajectory of this sector.

Keywords: India, Retailing, Kirana, Brands, Regulation

JEL Classification: B21, D20, D21, F01, F14, F43, L81, M31, N15, N75, 053