Wal-Mart's Costs Can't Always Be Measured

A columnist points out problems with a recent EDC study of Wal-Mart's impact on Los Angeles' economy.

1 minute read

February 5, 2004, 7:00 AM PST

"[W]hen the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. released a study finding that the expansion of Wal-Mart's grocery business into Southern California would be, on balance, a great thing, my first reaction was that the company had purchased the LAEDC's reputation cheaply for the $65,000 it paid for the study... The fact is that while the LAEDC report may be fine as far as it goes, it doesn't go far enough in analyzing the Wal-Mart effect on a community. And by leaving out a few perceptible but unquantifiable consequences of Wal-Mart policies, it makes the overall effect look more favorable than it really is."

Thanks to Paula Sirola

Read the full story: Wal-Mart's Costs Can't Always Be Measured

Monday, February 2, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

Community / Economic Development California

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