Summary

Two studies reveal that Walmart’s entry into communities lowers household incomes by 6% over 10 years and increases poverty by 8%, even when accounting for cost savings.

Its practices, such as undercutting competitors, suppressing wages, and squeezing suppliers, harm local economies by reducing employment and forcing smaller businesses to close.

Walmart’s “monopsony power” enables it to pay lower wages and dominate suppliers, compounding these effects.

The findings challenge the idea that low prices alone benefit communities, emphasizing long-term economic harm.

——

Non-paywall link

  • kent_eh
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    29
    ·
    1 day ago

    Hard to start a business when your competitor is Walmart.

    It’s also hard to maintain an existing business when your competitor is WalMart.

    They can afford to undercut you until you go out of business, then they can charge whatever the market will bear.