Wal-Martization Of The U.S. Economy

Do planners have any responsibility for maintaining a fair distribution of income in the U.S.?

1 minute read

January 6, 2004, 8:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"America was once a place of substantial intergenerational mobility: Sons often did much better than their fathers... The distribution of income in the United States has gone right back to Gilded Age levels of inequality... Over the past generation upward mobility has fallen drastically. Very few children of the lower class are making their way to even moderate affluence... As a general rule, once they've reached their 30s, people don't move up and down the income ladder very much... Business Week attributes this to the 'Wal-Martization' of the economy, the proliferation of dead-end, low-wage jobs and the disappearance of jobs that provide entry to the middle class."

Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism

Monday, January 5, 2004 in The Nation

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

Man reaching for young girl sliding down playground slide.

Quantifying Social Infrastructure

New developments have clear rules for ensuring surrounding roads, water, and sewers can handle new users. Why not do the same for community amenities?

45 minutes ago - Happy Cities

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

Dallas Code Reform Makes Way for Missing Middle Housing

The Dallas City Council voted to change the city’s building code to allow up to eight residential units in three-story buildings.

1 hour ago - Strong Towns

Wire sign over street "Welcome to Chinatown" in New York City.

Mahjong Game Highlights Displacement of Seniors in NYC’s Chinatown

‘Aging Out of Place’ explores the mechanisms that displace vulnerable seniors, and how the community can help preserve key resources and institutions.

2 hours ago - Next City