A study is underway into what happened to hundreds of Christchurch inner city businesses after the devastating earthquakes.
The University of Canterbury project is tracking individual businesses to find out if they've relocated, downsized, or ceased to trade.
Preliminary analysis shows that 15 per cent of businesses have not relocated or reopened new stores but have simply downsized with fewer stores in Christchurch than before the quakes.
"This demonstrates the advantages of larger businesses with diversified locations," says Tracy Hatton, a postgraduate student who is heading the project.
A second part of the study will investigate the stories behind the numbers with interviews carried out with businesses that have ceased trading, with aim of seeking to understand what circumstances they faced and the choices they made.