Walmart – the largest retailer in history. Understandably, the corporation experiences praise and complaints. With over 11,500 stores in 28 countries, Walmart hires 1.5 million associates in the United States – 2.3 million worldwide (Our Story). Many, including Walmart itself, claims that it creates jobs and helps unemployment, while others argue that when a Walmart moves into town, most small businesses have to shut down and are forced to work for lower wages at Walmart (Rugolo). Some argue that Walmart is too large and acts more like a monopoly and negatively affects the United States economy. Although there may be fluctuations in employment and prices within communities when a Walmart enters a town, overall, research has found that Walmart positively impacts the economy of the United States as it lowers the cost of living for Americans and fosters innovation (Allgrunn & Weinandt; Artz & Stone; Hoogland; and Rugolo). The first argument often made about Walmart is that it sells inferior goods. The corporation often performs well during recessions, which, at first glance, seems to be an …show more content…
Not only does this jeopardize the local businesses, but it can potentially increase the unemployment rate in that particular community and lead to a decrease in the community’s tax base and infrastructure (Artz & Stone, 298). Therefore, it is understandable that communities are hesitant to welcome a large store such as Walmart into their