Wal-Mart's Low Prices

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that for the majority of households in America, saving money is a necessity, as is convenience and saving time. The writer discusses the company Wal-Mart that has spread over the last fifty years from a few stores in central Arkansas to the largest retailer in the nation and the world. The writer points out that the five Walton heirs recently saw their net worth double to over $100 billion and all five are in Forbes list of the ten wealthiest Americans. The writer notes that they have accomplished so much growth by slashing prices and increasing proficiency, however, this low cost comes at a price. Many people see Wal-Mart as both a socially and morally irresponsible company. The writer maintains that in its attempts to increase profit, Wal-Mart mistreats its employees, causes mass outsourcing, and hurts local economies.

From the Paper:

"Another recent study shows that Wal-Mart operates primarily in poor and working class communities with additional evidence pointing out a relationship between average household income and the number of Wal-Marts in the area. All of this boils down to the fact that Wal-Mart is benefiting from the suffering of the poor. Nobody is asking for Wal-Mart employees to make a fortune, but as a company and employer, Wal-Mart has a moral responsibility to help its employees obtain at least a minimum standard of living.
"Amidst worker treatment issues, Wal-Mart is also in trouble over its buying policies. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Wal-Mart promoted buying American products yet in the past five years alone it has doubled its imports from China. In 2002 alone Wal-Mart imported $12 billion; that is nearly ten percent of all of China's exports and over seventy percent of Wal-Mart's products."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Featherstone, Liza. "Down and Out in Discount America." Writing Arguments p 565-571.
• Fishman, Charles. "The Wal-Mart You Don't Know." Fast Company Dec. 2003: 68.
• Ghemawat, Pankaj and Ken A. Mark. "The Price is Right." Writing Arguments p 571-572.
• Goldsborough, James O. "Wal-Mart vs. America's Middle Class." San Diego Union-Tribune 26 January 2004.
• Maich, Steve. "Why Wal-Mart Is Good." Writing Arguments p 573-581.

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