The Neo-Institutional Framework of Large-Scale Retail Spatial Policy Formulation Processin Serbia

Abstract

In this paper, in the theoretical framework of neo-institutional theory, the process of spatial policy formulation related to large-scale retail in Serbia was researched. The basic objective of the research is to explore possible ways of im-provement of institutional framework of spatial and urban policy formulation in Serbia in order to make the decision-making process on large-scale retail building more effective and to ade-quately address the complex problems of this type of building. Since neo-institutional theory considers institutions as series of formal and in-formal organizations, rules and procedures that build patterns of behavior within organizations, the paper includes the analysis of the effciency in the existing institutional framework of large-scale retail policy formulation and problems occurring in that process; the actual roles of public, private and civil actors, the content of policies by which large-scale retail building is directed at different levels of spatial organization; the methodologi-cal and procedural framework of these policies’ formulation. Possible directions for institutional framework redefnition are suggested in order to achieve more effective decision-making on the large-scale retail building in Serbia.