General

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Wibee — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:51:13 GMT

From the top of my head, some possibilities.

- emminet domain?

- how the selling of the land to build the walmart was handled?

- Benefits from having limited liabilty as opposed to mom and pop stores which might be sole proprieterships.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

limitgov — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:57:55 GMT

"Are we going to consider government roads and government medical plans for Wal-Mart employees as governments subsidies?"

now we're getting somewhere....

no not roads...all businesses are going to have acces to those....there's no unfair advantage there...

what governemnt medical plans? medicaid?

you got anything else? more directly linked to wal mart?

this is the most important question in this thread...

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Sieben — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:18:57 GMT

Lewis S.:
Why, teacher training, of course!

You all were being trained to be able to understand the causes of poverty? Specious cover...

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Lewis S. — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:10:32 GMT

Sorry this is bugging me... why were administrators giving a talk on poverty?

Why, teacher training, of course! That's just how the public schools operate, as farming centers for socialization and social justice. When you think about it, it's just more evidence that government schoolteachers are not educators, but social workers for the state, so these kinds of problems weigh heavily on their minds. The state schools are cruel places, practically laboratories of socio-pathology where young people are institutionalized and indoctrinated, so they feel the need for these kinds of programs to keep the teachers better prepared and better equipped to be effective classroom "managers."

Curriculum and real education really don't matter to administrators. At least that was my experience.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

wolfman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:48:06 GMT

Just try walmart vs. Costco.

Sometimes the lowest cost in the short run is the most expensive in the long run.

Dont forget how much influence walmart has on governments. That is corporatism.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Sieben — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:04:12 GMT

Lewis S.:
I also happened to be the only economics teacher in the room, which probably helped.

Sorry this is bugging me... why were administrators giving a talk on poverty?

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Curius Dentatus — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:58:17 GMT

I don't know if the allegation are correct but take a look

http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/corporate_subsidy/walmart.cfm

Just in case you missed the PDF

http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/wmtstudy.pdf

Are they credible? I don't know.

As for regulation...

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Podesta-clan_s-close-ties-to-Obama-pay-off-big-97413374.html

Also an old mises article..

Wal-Mart Warms to the State

http://mises.org/daily/1950

There is also allegations of fraud. Somewhere along the lines of accepting charity money for the poor and keeping it. I could find the articles if you want. Like I said "I have my doubts about Walmart's business practices."

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

DanielMuff — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:09:33 GMT

Are we going to consider government roads and government medical plans for Wal-Mart employees as governments subsidies?

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

limitgov — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:46:31 GMT

"Depends on what you mean by subsidies. "

I don't know....what do they get from the federal government?

this is the most important question...

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

BrianAnderson — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:46:15 GMT

I was going to ask you which subsidies you're talking about, and then I saw the other people above me ask too. Can you expand on which subsidies they're being given? I don't doubt you. I go far out of my way to purposefully not shop at Wal-Mart for various reasons, but I'd like to be enlightened.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Curius Dentatus — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:03:57 GMT

Federal Government subsidising Walmart? Lobbying for regulation? I have my doubts about Walmart's business practices. Hey! But The East India Company is a good business model. Coercion through government monopoly.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

DanielMuff — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:36:41 GMT

Depends on what you mean by subsidies.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

limitgov — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:34:45 GMT

Does Wal-Mart get subsidies?

this is the most important question...

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Sieben — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:32:28 GMT

Ahh you're a teacher :) Your oratory skills must have helped. Good choice of points in a small amount of time too though.

Re: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices

Lewis S. — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:29:14 GMT

What did you say in 45 seconds that convinced everyone so hard?

Didn't really get into economic theory too much, but made two points. First, I asked them to think how it was possible to bring about poverty by lowering prices and serving low-income groups, then made the general observation that it was absurd to conclude that the buying and selling of goods somehow "creates" poverty.

I also happened to be the only economics teacher in the room, which probably helped.