Believe it, the Wal-Mart savings could be TRUE!!

Last year when I read The Wal-Mart Effect I was very impressed at the scale of transformation a single corporation can have on a generation. I took the time to follow-up on some of the research mentioned in the book. I visited Dr. Emek Basker's website at the University of Missouri to read her analysis and ensuing publication on, The Causes and Consequences of Wal-Mart's Growth, (Journal of Economic Perspectives 21:3 (Summer 2007) 177-198). This morning when I read the article "What Wal-Mart Savings Claim Doesn't Tell You" in Ad Age I had no reservations believing Wal-Mart.

I say cheers to Wal-Mart economics!

I strongly believe most products at Wal-Mart are Okay, Available and Cheap but the innovation it forces and the price pressure it creates on its suppliers establish a certain Wal-Martian socialism.

I am no fan of any socialistic system but it has worked. From making products available to Americans at an affordable price, to creating a consumer culture globally to developing unsustainable practices of consumer use and throw of products and even the Salmon farming example from Southern Chile; Wal-Mart has made a profound impact. One that is well beyond the $2500 savings the retail store claims to generate for every American household whether they shop at Wal-Mart or not!