2. Theoretical framework
This part starts with a description of how the central concepts in
these areas are related and ends with a summary of important dimensions of shopping centres in terms of nine testable hypotheses,
each with two sub-hypotheses related to growth in visit rate and
sales. The conceptual framework of the article is mainly – with relevance to seven hypotheses out of nine – based on three related
theoretical areas, normally focused on what creates traffic and
customer spending, that in this particular study are defined as relevant for understanding motives and outcomes of shopping centre
investments and improvements. In essence, the three areas are: