The Wal-Mart Effect: Measuring The Economic Impact Of Big-Box Retailers And Wal-Mart As A Case Study

The emergence and rapid expansion of Wal-Mart into the world's largest retailer generated intense debate as to the costs and benefits imposed by its sheer size. Yet the economic impact of any company, even one as large as Wal-Mart, is hard to measure. There is no defining answer to its impact upon consumer prices, supply chain, competitors and labor market. This thesis aims to find out the influence of the entry and expansion of Wal-Mart stores on local economy, employment, supply chain and competitors, and the role played by Wal-Mart in the diffusion of information technology across the retailing industry.