Witkowska, AnnaWitkowski, Marek2017-12-312017-12-311980Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny 42, 1980, z. 4, s. 127-1400035-9629http://hdl.handle.net/10593/21111In the elaboration an attempt has been taken up to identify factors determining cost level of retail trade enterprises. At the initial stage of research choice of potential explanatory variables has been done as well as quantitative analysis of their influence on costs when classical linear regression used. It turned out, however, that many explanatory variables are then statistically insignificant. The appraisal of used regression model revealed that it could not be used as a tool of problem solution. The main reason was a strong correlation among explanatory variables, i.e. phenomenon of collinearity. An attempt to eliminate the collinearity thanks to factor analysis in form of the main factors method has been taken up in further part of the article. It has been shown that the method gives also — along with the complete elimination of collinearity at the stage of costs model estimation — a possibility of separation of the most important determinants from the starting set of potential cost-creating factors. Limitations to the utilization of the presented procedure have also been pointed out. Empirical exemplification of the presented method has been carried out ox* the ground of source material concerning costs and results of activities of retail trade enterprises of food products in Poland.polinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessArtykuł