Transformation of retailing in post-communist Slovakia in the context of globalization

Abstract

Retailing is a form of exchange, which mediates the movement of goods between the manufacturer, 
\ntheir transfer and sales to the phase of the field of 
\nfinal consumption. For the past 25 years significant 
\ntransformation processes have been identified in the retailing of post-communist countries that have 
\nboth an economic and also spatial character. The aim of this paper is to analyze re 
\ntailing in Slovakia 
\nand its development in the period of 25 years with specific attention paid to the transformation 
\nprocess. In the paper these processes are classi
\nfied and defined in the time and space context. The conclusions of the study show that in Slovakia some trends in globalization processes can 
\nbe identified, which are typical in other developed countries. These changes become evident 
\nparticularly after 1989. The process of atomization of the retail is the 
\nfirst analysed process and it 
\nis typical for the transition period from the centrally-planned economy to the market economy. The further processes are related to manifestations of globalization in the Slovakian retail. Those are 
\nthe processes of internationalization, cooperation, and concentration in the retail. By analyzing all 
\nof the changes in the Slovak retail it is then possible to identify several stages of transformation. 
\nThe characteristics of the globalization processes in the retail sector are more intense in urban areas than in rural. For Slovakia, there is a delayed ransition in the processes in comparison with 
\nneighbouring countries. The size of the market determines the intensity of the manifestations of the
\nglobalization processes. The ultimate consolidation of retailers in Slovakia can be categorized as 
\ntransformation process in the initial stage of development.