Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne
Compared to multiple other European countries, Germany still lists among those countries restricting the operation of most retail activities on Sundays as well as public holidays. For a long time, the German populace backed this decision. The COVID-19 crisis had distinct effects on retail behavior,...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/271 |
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| author | Jens K. Perret Martin Fontanari |
| author_facet | Jens K. Perret Martin Fontanari |
| author_sort | Jens K. Perret |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Compared to multiple other European countries, Germany still lists among those countries restricting the operation of most retail activities on Sundays as well as public holidays. For a long time, the German populace backed this decision. The COVID-19 crisis had distinct effects on retail behavior, expectations, and perceptions among broad strata of German society. To quantify these changes, this study implements the results of two surveys from 2018 and 2025. Both samples were drawn from among the population of the fourth-largest German city of Cologne and visitors to the city. The results of <i>t</i>-tests and multiple multivariate regression analyses indicate that visitors still attend retail Sundays for hedonistic motives, i.e., related events, but in 2025 utilitarian motives have become more essential. While the amount of money spent during retail Sundays increased, this development is primarily driven by visitors not native to Cologne. However, city events continue to draw visitors and should be continued by city management. The financial potential for retailers by abolishing the German Shop Closing Act consequently remains limited, and its abolishment would only increase the ease of shoppers. Thus, legal changes to the act will have only limited potential for urban economic development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-577d846133fe4b0184837f4c154a7b93 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-577d846133fe4b0184837f4c154a7b932025-08-20T02:47:14ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-07-019727110.3390/urbansci9070271Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of CologneJens K. Perret0Martin Fontanari1International School of Management, Im MediaPark 5c, 50667 Cologne, GermanyInternational School of Management, Im MediaPark 5c, 50667 Cologne, GermanyCompared to multiple other European countries, Germany still lists among those countries restricting the operation of most retail activities on Sundays as well as public holidays. For a long time, the German populace backed this decision. The COVID-19 crisis had distinct effects on retail behavior, expectations, and perceptions among broad strata of German society. To quantify these changes, this study implements the results of two surveys from 2018 and 2025. Both samples were drawn from among the population of the fourth-largest German city of Cologne and visitors to the city. The results of <i>t</i>-tests and multiple multivariate regression analyses indicate that visitors still attend retail Sundays for hedonistic motives, i.e., related events, but in 2025 utilitarian motives have become more essential. While the amount of money spent during retail Sundays increased, this development is primarily driven by visitors not native to Cologne. However, city events continue to draw visitors and should be continued by city management. The financial potential for retailers by abolishing the German Shop Closing Act consequently remains limited, and its abolishment would only increase the ease of shoppers. Thus, legal changes to the act will have only limited potential for urban economic development.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/271CologneSundayeventsregulationshops closing actregression |
| spellingShingle | Jens K. Perret Martin Fontanari Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne Urban Science Cologne Sunday events regulation shops closing act regression |
| title | Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne |
| title_full | Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne |
| title_fullStr | Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne |
| title_short | Changing Perceptions of Urban Retail Regulation: Sundays in the German City of Cologne |
| title_sort | changing perceptions of urban retail regulation sundays in the german city of cologne |
| topic | Cologne Sunday events regulation shops closing act regression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/271 |
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