The Wal-Mart Effect - Research Paper Example

The Company has stopped using illegal timber in its products, and use reusable wood. It has established strict sustainability standards. As regards, its HR policies, the company has incorporated a benefit plan that shortens the waiting time for part-time employees to obtain coverage by a year. The annual report of Wal-Mart indicates less safety, labor, and environmental violations than the year. In this financial crisis, the company created a total of 63,000 jobs (Wal-Mart, 2009). My town has witnessed the ‘Wal-Mart Effect’.

The opening of a Wal-Mart leads to the following effects on the neighborhood, it is operating: Lowering of prices, reshaping of shopping habits, downward pressure on wages of employees of stores competing with Wal-Mart, the creation of employment, and the suburbanization of shopping (Fishman, 2006). After the opening of a Wal-Mart store in my neighborhood, people have started buying from the retail giant thereby throwing many small retail shops out of business. People now but at low prices. The store has also led to a decrease in unemployment by providing almost 500 jobs to the neighborhoods.

Another thing that can be seen is families going out together on a weekend for shopping at the retail giant. Truly, Wal-Mart had a large impact on society.