Wal-Mart, the name and the phenomenon, is an aspect that anyone who is in America just can not escape. And why not? Wal-Mart is only the second company after GM (who did it 30 odd years ago), whose revenue is equivalent to more than 10% of US GDP.
I like many others have even always been startled by this phenomenon. Starting with the first time when I entered its store, when a lot of stuff that were seemingly impossible for an immigrant student became reality, to my studies where I came to know how the operation of the it work, to the radical opponent of its operation especially in CNY to lot of shows on it, it has been a learning experience.
And like the capitalist dream that it fulfills it has it pros and cons. The most important is certainly making a lot of stuffs possible for many customers for whom many of it would not have been possible. Personally Wal-Mart had made many items economically feasible for me, especially when I was student. And I am certainly not the only one. A big reason, why, Wal-Mart appeals to lower earning communities. Wal-Mart surely is leveling the rich and poor divide by bringing up the lifestyle of so many Americans. And for decades much of increase in American lifestyle was because of this advantage of Globalization.
The other good aspect of Wal-Mart is the Globalization it is brining. Though its implication will be decided by history, Wal-Mart has made it possible for a manufacturer anywhere in world to market its goods. The supply chain makes it possible but its results are phenomenon. Much of China’s progress is because of Wal-Mart, (Wal-Mart is the single biggest buyer of Chinese commodity). And this is to the fastest growing developing nations. Add names like Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka and Malyasia it is uplifting lives of many across the world.
On the con side, one aspect is the loosing the small stores, and the high consumerism it generates. I suppose, especially form personal experience, Wal-Mart forces us to buy or have hope of buying the next time we come in, for many stuff that we do not need. And this I suppose can adds a lot of chaos to the already life that one lives.
Delving a more into the above aspect, it especially becomes relevant to an Indian, where we are taught from really early on that one needs to avoid a lot of "Maya". Do we need so much, or we are buying what a big store wants us to. In this way I suppose small stores are always better. And though we might buy each item at a higher price there, but as we are buying less, the overall amount we pay might not be as much as we might calculate first hand. Also it makes our life simpler. It is not spending hours at Wal-Mart and trying to decide but getting us do stuff that matter
The implication of this is big. Personally it helps in making our life simpler. I believe one of the challenges of a modern lifestyle is to distinguish between ones needs and ones wants. Stores like Wal-Mart make this really difficult especially if you happen to be a curious person, like me.
In end as it is mentioned Wal-Mart is a classical example of Capitalism. It has it pitfalls besides having its advantage.
