Consumer Mobility, Offline and Online Regional Trade: Evidence From High-Frequency Transaction Data

David Bounie; Youssouf Camara; John W. Galbraith

doi:10.1111/iere.70036

Consumer Mobility, Offline and Online Regional Trade: Evidence From High-Frequency Transaction Data

David Bounie
, Youssouf Camara
, John W. Galbraith

McGill University

Résultats de recherche: Contribution à un journal › Article › Revue par des pairs

Résumé

The shift from offline to online purchasing is reshaping trade patterns: a weaker effect of distance has been observed in digital transactions. This study analyzes these dynamics at an unprecedented scale and granularity, using interregional gravity models estimated from billions of geolocated French card transactions. Using a matched sample of merchants active in both online and offline channels, with unambiguous regional identification, we compare purchasing behavior across channels. We estimate that distance matters 35% less online than offline on average, but for durables, 69% lower online; 43% lower online for nondurables; a negligible online–offline difference is found for services.

langue originale	Anglais
Pages (de - à)	565-579
Nombre de pages	15
journal	International Economic Review
Volume	67
Numéro de publication	2
Les DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.70036
état	Publié - 1 mai 2026

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10.1111/iere.70036

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title = "Consumer Mobility, Offline and Online Regional Trade: Evidence From High-Frequency Transaction Data",

abstract = "The shift from offline to online purchasing is reshaping trade patterns: a weaker effect of distance has been observed in digital transactions. This study analyzes these dynamics at an unprecedented scale and granularity, using interregional gravity models estimated from billions of geolocated French card transactions. Using a matched sample of merchants active in both online and offline channels, with unambiguous regional identification, we compare purchasing behavior across channels. We estimate that distance matters 35\% less online than offline on average, but for durables, 69\% lower online; 43\% lower online for nondurables; a negligible online–offline difference is found for services.",

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author = "David Bounie and Youssouf Camara and Galbraith, \{John W.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). International Economic Review published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Osaka Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.",

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KW - consumption expenditure

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KW - gravity model

KW - interregional retail trade

KW - regional economic activity

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Consumer Mobility, Offline and Online Regional Trade: Evidence From High-Frequency Transaction Data

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