Economic/Small Business
Examples and Resources
What Happened When Wal-Mart Came To Town? (1996)
National Trust For Historic Preservation’s analysis of seven Iowa counties. “Wal-Mart stores, at least in Iowa, create few if any net additions to retail employment…Opening a Wal-Mart results in a redistribution of jobs from other, mostly smaller businesses to Wal-Mart.” From 77% to 100% of…
Wal-Mart Imports From China, Exports Ohio Jobs (2005)
This report, prepared by the AFL-CIO Wal-Mart Campaign, tells the stories of four Ohio companies that sell to Wal-Mart. The loss of jobs at the Huffy Corp., Rubbermaid, Mr. Coffee and Thomson factories in Ohio demonstrates how Wal-Mart pressures suppliers to send Ohio jobs overseas. The study concludes…
Wal-Mart’s Impacts On the American Supermarket Industry. (2004)
This DSR Marketing System study focuses on Oklahoma City, OK. “Between July, 1998 and the end of 2003, 31 supermarkets in the Oklahoma City area, representing a total of 1.24 million square feet of floor space, have closed and remain vacant…The opening of 17 new Wal-Mart grocery stores has already…
Global Credit Services. Finds that “so many dollars of finished goods are flowing through Wal-Mart to consumers that many other retailing firms will not be able to generate the level of revenue growth necessary to help fund their debts. There is not enough residual dollars left in the consumer economy…
Wal-Mart and County-Wide Poverty (2004)
This Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology study from Pennsylvania State University, examined the impact of Wal-Mart stores on county-level family poverty, and found “the presence of Wal-Mart unequivocally raised family poverty rates in US counties during the 1990s relative to…
Town of North, Elba, NY Statement Of Findings and Decision Proposed Wal-Mart
In its Findings of Fact, the North Elba Planning Board determined, “To the extent that the (Wal-Mart) would result in long term chronic vacancies, the ambiance of the community would be adversely impacted, resulting in loss of a portion of the tourist trade. Such loss would have economic impacts…
Retail Sales Impact of Proposed Wal-Mart on Franklin County, VT. (1993)
Tom Muller/Beth Humstone. For every $10 million in sales at a typical retail business in Franklin County 106 people are employed, versus 70 people at Wal-Mart. “Due to projected sales losses to existing businesses in Franklin County, there will be up to 500 retail jobs lost over the next ten years.…
Northeast Ohio Regional Retail Analysis Executive Summary (2000)
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. “Community tax revenue that is generated by new retail development is often offset by the local government costs of providing additional infrastructure and public safety services, the softening of revenue from existing businesses, and the costs of environmental…
A Review of the Fiscal & Competitive Advantages of Smarter Growth (2004)
Brookings Institute. “Communities should recognize that sprawl contributes to budgetary distress, and that better managing development patterns can play a role in controlling rising costs and framing long-term solutions. “The marginal cost of serving additional population decreases as more residents…
Impact of the Wal-Mart Phenomenon On Rural Communities (1997)
Ken Stone. “The leakage of retail trade from small towns has accelerated in the last two decades with the rapid proliferation of discount mass merchandiser stores in the larger towns and cities. Studies in Iowa have shown that some towns below 5,000 population have lost nearly half their retail…
