Robinson's mall is a ghostown

In Switzerland we have a very bad constellation also. Two big retailers are owning about 86% of the whole grocery, electronic, work shops, electronic market and more. The third biggest retailer is already in a single digit percentage. Fortunately two german retailers did spread in Switzerland and gives poor people a possibility to get decent food for a nice price.

 

Depends on the location doesn't it.

Health and safety regulations?
Building compliance regulations ?
Local council regulations?
Employment regulations?
The "no trading on Easter Sunday" regulation?

 

Sure, the most obvious one being a sales tax. When Amazon grew to be Amazon that was a big deal, no sales tax for almost everybody. There are also state and local minimum wages, parking regulations concerning the number and type of parking spaces available and runoff mitigation, property taxes. Amazon can pick places that area either favorable to it or negotiate favorable terms from local and state governments regarding these types of things.

 

I tempted to debate the idea that these regulations did what you claim but not even I, a libertarian, really argues for NO regulation, just like no one really argues that ALL regulation is good (although a lot argue for much more), the point is is that regulation can impede business. The Philippines is a good example of regulatory bureaucracy getting slowing things down and getting in the way. Amazon has the advantage of being able to source products and vendors where they find it favors them and source their distribution centers where it favors them. There is a reason Amazon does not source its distribution in the Philippines. This gives them a huge comparative advantage to a mall, which is located where it is located.

 

Some might find the Heritage Foundations Index of Economic Freedom interesting. Even if you don't like the Heritage Foundation. You might also disagree with some of their methodology and findings but it is still interesting. Northern Europe has more economic freedom than the US: https://www.heritage.org/index/about

 

Anyone know what they are building on Robinsons, the old Jeepney terminal next to the market-place?

 

It turned out to be a good idea for the Chinese economy.

 

Amazon and Robinson’s sells Chinese Junk...20 years ago I bought 4 pair Allen Edmunds shoes...made in USA from the AAFES catalog. In 2019...they look brand new.