What have studies found about the impact of Wal-Mart and other big-box stores? Here we provide concise summaries and links to the best available research on the impact of these retailers on jobs, wages, local businesses, taxes, and more. (Download a PDF version of this page for printing and distribution.)
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These studies examine whether the arrival of a superstore increases or decreases the number of retail jobs in the region.
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These studies examine the effect of big-box chains, particularly Wal-Mart, on wages and benefits for retail employees. |
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These studies look at how the arrival of a big-box retailer displaces sales at existing businesses, which must then downsize or close, resulting in job losses and declining tax revenue.
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The following studies have found that locally owned stores generate much greater benefits for the local economy than national chains.
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Counties that have gained Wal-Mart stores have fared worse in terms of family poverty rates, according to this study. |
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Wal-Mart reduces a community's level of social capital, which has implications for civic participation and economic growth, this study found.
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These studies compare the municipal tax benefits of big-box development with the cost of providing these stores with city services, such as road maintenance, police and fire - finding that cities do not always come out ahead. |
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Because many of their employees do not earn enough to make ends meet, states are reporting high costs associated with providing healthcare (Medicaid) and other public assistance to big-box employees. |
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The expansion of big-box retailers has been financed in part by massive development subsidies and tax advantages provided by local and state governments. These studies document those subsidies and their failure to produce real economic benefits for communities. |
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Do chains deliver the consumer benefits they claim to? |
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Established trip generation rates for supercenters significantly underestimate the actual traffic impact, according to this study. |
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Small businesses donate about twice as much per employee to charitable organizations as large businesses, according to this study.
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