Development and classification of shopping centers in Czech and Slovak republics: A comparative analysis

Modern shopping centers of the West-European type have existed in the Czech and Slovak republics since 1997 and 2000, respectively, i.e. for less than two decades. Despite this rather short period they have become synonymous with the most signifcant transformations both in shopping behaviour and in the more generally understood patterns of social and cultural behavior of all population groups (entertainment and leisure time utilization). This article compares similarities and differences in the temporal, spatial and functional structures of shopping centers in two countries that had, until 1993, developed for seventy years as a single state, and which have demonstrated signifcant similarities in their economies, cultures and societies even after the separation.