Walmart sponsored paper/conference concludes Walmart good for US

[papau]

Of course, correlation is not causation - perhaps computers between 85 and 04 may have caused more cost savings than this study allows them? And a WalMart sponsored paper/conference has got to cause a smile! :-)

:-(


http://www.globalinsight.com/publicDownload/genericContent/11-03-05_walmart.pdf
The Economic Impact of Wal-Mart - Full Study

http://www.globalinsight.com/About/PressRelease/PressRelease2439.htm
Study Results Press Release 4 Nov 2005


http://www.globalinsight.com/Highlight/HighlightDetail2436.htm
Selected Studies Presented 4 Nov 2005

Measuring the Economic Impact of Wal-Mart on the U.S. Economy


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A new Global Insight study, The Economic Impact of Wal-Mart, released on November 4, 2005, analyses the national and region impact of the nation's largest retailer on the U.S. economy. The study was structured to determine the net economic impact of Wal-Mart at the national, city, and county level and includes:

A national level analysis to estimate the overall impact of Wal-Mart as measured by commonly used measures of national economic performance.

A metropolitan area impact analysis to characterize how the impact could be measured in a specific Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Dallas-Fort Worth, and to serve as an example for how Wal-Mart's economic impact should be estimated in other cities.

A county level impact analysis to look at the specific dynamics associated with the impact of Wal-Mart's entry and expansion at the local (county) level.

As part of the study process, Global Insight reviewed a wide range of previous studies that indicated that the efficiencies that Wal-Mart has fostered in the retail sector have led to lower prices for the U.S. consumer. These results were supported by statistical analysis which found that the expansion of Wal-Mart over the 1985 to 2004 period can be associated with a cumulative decline of 9.1% in food-at-home prices, a 4.2% decline in commodities (goods) prices, and a 3.1% decline in overall consumer prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index-All Items, which includes both goods and services.

The main driver of this impact was a 0.75% improvement in the overall efficiency of the economy. Increased capital intensity and lower import prices were secondary drivers. The 3.1% decline in the price level was partially offset by a 2.2% decline in nominal wages, so that the net effect was to increase real disposable income by 0.9% by 2004.

In addition to conducting its own study, Global Insight issued a call for research papers from the academic and business community. An independent Global Insight Review Committee selected studies from these submissions to be presented at the Wal-Mart sponsored conference in Washington, D.C. on November 4, 2005. Selection of studies was not dependent upon either positive or negative findings but on academic rigor, methodology, and the overall quality of analysis.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. cig companies had plenty of "studies" showing smoking not harmful.

at one point, Phil Morris had more than 400 PhDs and MDs on staff putting out that stuff.

[Poet Lariat]

2. Show this load of crap study to any number of small business

...owners who have been eaten up by Wal-mart and they'll laugh through their collective tears. The Wal-martization of America has impacted thousands and thousands of lives in mostly negative ways. Thanks for this post papau.