The exterior of a Macy’s department store is seen last week at the Landmark Mall in Arlington. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

By Robert J. Samuelson January 11, 2106 –  Washington Post
We are in the throes of another round of what the economist Joseph Schumpeter memorably called “creative destruction.” Two icons of American business — Macy’s and Sears — are struggling. Macy’s plans to close 100 stores to improve profitability, and Sears has sold its Craftsman tools line for roughly $900 million to raise cash. Conceivably, one or both of these historic chains could go bankrupt.
Their distress is part of a larger consolidation of retailers under siege from e-commerce. The Limited is closing all its 250 stores. Kmart, owned by Sears, is shutting dozens of stores. This is a rough process for workers, managers and shareholders, but it holds out the promise of improved business efficiency, a.k.a. productivity. The most inefficient stores will shut; the survivors will be more viable and stable. [Read more]