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Wal-Mart has no appreciable effect on small business
Here is a letter to the New Republic by Donald J. Boudreaux, Chair of the George Mason University Department of Economics.
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Jordan Stancil alleges that "rural Americans have seen their ownership of their communities hollowed out by relentless consolidation in the retail and financial sectors" ("It's the Wal-Marts, Stupid," April 18). He laments that he and his fellow thirtysomethings from rural America are "the first generation of non-owners." To support these claims, however, he offers only personal anecdotes and impressions.
Fortunately, economists Andrea Dean and Russell Sobel have investigated this oft-told tale using data. Their findings cast serious doubt on the veracity of Mr. Stancil's allegations. For example, Dean and Sobel find that the five U.S. states with the greatest number of Wal-Mart stores per-capita have a self-employment rate identical to the self-employment rate in the five states with the fewest Wal-Mart stores per-capita. And in those states enjoying a high density of Wal-Marts, the number of businesses with nine or fewer employees is higher per-capita than in those states with a low-density of Wal-Marts. Dean and Sobel conclude that "Wal-Mart has had no significant impact on the overall size and growth of U.S. small business activity."
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I hope they print it. Maybe it will cure some New Republic readers of their anti-business sentiments.
-Matt Hittle
Posted at 07:12PM Apr 27, 2008 by College Republicans in Economics | Comments[2]
What a load of crap spin.
All you have to go out to what's left of the small businesses (and there ain't much left) in ANY community where CHINA-MART has devastated small businesses and ask those business owners if CHINA-MART has negatively impacted small businesses.
For instance - go visit the owners of Davis Pharmacy here in Vermillion and ask THEM what they think of CHINA-MART or Choice Pharmacy... woops... they just run out of business by CHINA-MART- I guess you can't ask them.
If you enjoy destroying America's small businesses then by all means - continue supporting the CHINESE ECONOMY by shopping at WAL-MART. It's your choice as an America to destroy your own economy.
Sometimes you have to not trust politically-motivated, agenda riddled 'reports' and just do the foot work yourself like I have. It doesn't take a scholar to see what's really going on.
WAL-MART is the frontline force of CHINA's economic war on America and has been ever since Sam Walton died and WAL-MART sold out its integrity for GREED.
Posted by Douglas Bryenldson on April 28, 2008 at 09:54 AM CDT #
Without the aid of statistical modeling OR any advanced degree, you have come to the conclusion that Wal-Mart is a big, bad, evil corporation!!
So Choice Pharmacy ran out of business? WHO CARES? That put maybe 10 people out of work. But the 10,000 people whose quality of life has IMPROVED because of Wal-Mart VASTLY outweighs the 10 who are out of work.
You obviously didn't read my post- Boudreaux writes that Stancil relies upon anecdotal evidence. SO DO YOU. You have NO evidence to back up any of your incredibly ignorant and short-sighted claims.
"It doesn't take a scholar to see what's really going on"." Then why are you in school, Douglas? If you know what's best for everyone, why don't you go start "The University of Douglas' Superiority?"
I don't like to make personal attacks, but that comment was just outright ignorant. For someone who admonishes others to keep open minds, yours is sealed tight.
Posted by Matt Hittle on April 28, 2008 at 11:19 AM CDT #