[Winona Online Democracy] --- Jerome Christenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > [Winona Online Democracy] > > Greetings, > The claim that "for every 2 new Wal Mart jobs that > are created, 3 others are > lost in the community" has surfaced and resurfaced > recently, always without citation or attribution. > Could someone provide me with the source of this > assertion and the research supporting it. > Thanks, > Jerome **************************
Credited with this is Donella Meadows from "The Neighborhood Works" Magazine. She is a Dartmouth Environmental Studies professor. I've been looking for original text but cannot find it on the web yet. Have not seen the "science" yet. Another independent study was done by Humstone Associates in 1993 for the town of St. Albans, VT. It projected an expected net loss of 200 jobs for the town because Wal-Mart sales are less "labor intensive" than small locally-owned businesses: Wal-Mart employs 70 people for every $10 million sales, while small retailers employ 106 people per $10 million sales. Here's the full citation: Elizabeth Humstone and Thomas Muller, "Impact of Wal-Mart on Northwestern Vermont," prepared for the Preservation Trust of Vermont, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, and Williston Citizens for Responsible Growth, 1995 Here's a 1996 study by the National Trust For Historic Preservation. It was conducted in three Iowa communities and seven Iowa counties, and written again by Tom Muller and Elizabeth Humstone. Highlights here: http://www.humboldt1.com/friends/art5.htm Kenneth Stone is widely cited with the finding that business and job losses accelerate after 3-5 years of Wal-Mart being in town. (Stone, Mississippi Business Journal 6/88). Important because apparently Wal-Mart counter studies only look at employment jumps that happen in the first year or two a Wal-Mart moves in. This journalist examines the claims of RKG Associates and Sear-Brown Group who worked for Wal-Mart doing a study in Ithaca, NY. Very interesting. Shows some of the hidden effects on communities such as Wal-Mart shunning all local legal services, banking, insurance, etc. since they have everything in-show down in Arkansas. Maybe Target does this too...I don't know, but Winona businesses probably don't. You can draw your own conclusions: http://www.lightlink.com/hours/ithacahours/archive/9406.html Hope this helps, Jerome. I think the evidence should be looked at rigorously. Any claim Wal-Mart makes about boosting employment had better speak to at least 5 years down the line after the smaller stores dry up and take their local-spending power with them. Jamie Groth __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
