11 ms·

Here’s an episode of econtalk where the guest worked at Walmart and described his experiences https://www.econtalk.org/platt-on-working-at-wal-mart/ https://www

Here’s an episode of econtalk where the guest worked at Walmart and described his experiences https://www.econtalk.org/platt-on-working-at-wal-mart/ https://www.econtalk.org/platt-on-working-at-wal-mart/ Worth a listen if you want a counter point to the “wal mart is evil” trope.

deanak 6y ago
Walmart purposefully designs their pay structure to externalize their labor costs to taxpayers.[1] They have gladly led the way in lobbying for offshoring manufacturing jobs.[2] They do everything they can to avoid paying taxes and bust unions.[3][4] They will burn a small town's economy to the ground so they can turn a profit selling goods produced in sweatshops and labor camps. If that's not evil, I'm not sure what would qualify. [1] https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-45.pdf https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-45.pdf [2] https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Walmart#Walmart_is_a_Driving_Force_in_U.S._Imports_and_Related_Offshoring_of_U.S._Jobs https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Walmart#Walmart_is_a_D... [3] https://qz.com/1701404/walmart-allegedly-created-fictitious-chinese-jv-to-avoid-us-tax/ https://qz.com/1701404/walmart-allegedly-created-fictitious-... [4] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/union-walmart-shut-5-stores-over-labor-activism/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/union-walmart-shut-5-stores-ove...
m463 6y ago
To be clear, I was more making a point about market forces more than "walmart is evil" (although they are a ruthlessly efficient distribution system) I know walmart is bigger, but I wonder if (when?) amazon's market cap will surpass it. I don't know if walmart can transition if that's the endgame. Will they transition to online like netflix, or blockbuster?
- amanaplanacanal 6y ago
  They already compete with Amazon online, but I don’t know how much of their sales occurs there vs in-person

deanak 6y ago

Walmart purposefully designs their pay structure to externalize their labor costs to taxpayers.[1] They have gladly led the way in lobbying for offshoring manufacturing jobs.[2] They do everything they can to avoid paying taxes and bust unions.[3][4] They will burn a small town's economy to the ground so they can turn a profit selling goods produced in sweatshops and labor camps. If that's not evil, I'm not sure what would qualify. [1] https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-45.pdf https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-45.pdf [2] https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Walmart#Walmart_is_a_Driving_Force_in_U.S._Imports_and_Related_Offshoring_of_U.S._Jobs https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Walmart#Walmart_is_a_D... [3] https://qz.com/1701404/walmart-allegedly-created-fictitious-chinese-jv-to-avoid-us-tax/ https://qz.com/1701404/walmart-allegedly-created-fictitious-... [4] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/union-walmart-shut-5-stores-over-labor-activism/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/union-walmart-shut-5-stores-ove...

m463 6y ago

To be clear, I was more making a point about market forces more than "walmart is evil" (although they are a ruthlessly efficient distribution system) I know walmart is bigger, but I wonder if (when?) amazon's market cap will surpass it. I don't know if walmart can transition if that's the endgame. Will they transition to online like netflix, or blockbuster?

amanaplanacanal 6y ago
They already compete with Amazon online, but I don’t know how much of their sales occurs there vs in-person