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How e-commerce adoption reshapes Scandinavian retail organisations: Employment intensity, enterprise density, and labour productivity

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  • Regasse, Ghita

Abstract

This study provides a comparative macro-structural assessment of how e-commerce adoption is reshaping retail organisation in Scandinavia, which is one of the world's most digitally advanced retail regions. While prior research has focused on consumer behaviour, firm-level digital transformation, and omnichannel operations, little is known about how digital adoption aggregates into sector-wide outcomes. Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory and knowledge-based structural change, this paper examines whether increases in the share of retail enterprises selling online are associated with changes in employment intensity, enterprise density, and labour productivity. In addition, the analysis incorporates national urbanisation to explore whether spatial context conditions these structural adjustments. Using harmonised Eurostat data for Denmark, Finland and Sweden (2015–2020), fixed-effects, lagged-dependent-variable and ARDL models were estimated and complemented by robustness checks including variance inflation factors, Granger causality, and residual diagnostics.

Suggested Citation

  • Regasse, Ghita, 2026. "How e-commerce adoption reshapes Scandinavian retail organisations: Employment intensity, enterprise density, and labour productivity," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:90:y:2026:i:c:s0969698926000068
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2026.104727
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