Changed consumption patterns in the center of Karlstad during covid-19 : A study of the impact of e-commerce on the retail industry in Karlstad's city center and how people's consumption patterns has been affected during the pandemic in Karlstad

This essay aimed to investigate whether increased e-commerce during the current pandemic (covid19), could constitute a threat towards the retail industry in the city center of Karlstad. The study's main question reads as follows: Has the retail in the city center of Karlstad lost visitors to e-commerce since the outbreak of the pandemic? The study is based on research regarding changes in consumption patterns in relation to increased e-commerce, as well as time-geographical action theory that explains how the individual's actions are affected as a result of prevailing social and societal norms. This has explained why the individual's consumption patterns can change under extreme conditions such as the Corona pandemic, when social norms also change. The study is also based on research that concerns urban ideals and the Central place theory. The method used in the study is a quantitative questionnaire study, which was used to answer the study's purpose and main question. The result presents bar charts to clearly illustrate to the reader the answers that emerged in the study.Finally, the study concluded that the majority of respondents have both used e-commerce and avoided shopping in the city center of Karlstad to a greater extent since the pandemic broke out. This could be interpreted as the center trade in Karlstad has lost visitors to e-commerce since the outbreak of the pandemic