The Wal-Mart Effect: How an Out-of-town Superstore Became a Superpower

Charles Fishman

Penguin Books Limited, Feb 1, 2007 - Business & Economics - 336 pages

Wal-Mart is not just the world's largest company--it is the largest company in the history of the world. It is estimated that the company's low prices save American consumers $10 billion a year--but the #1 employer in 37 states has never let a union in the door. Though 70% of Americans now live within a 15-minute drive of a Wal-Mart, we have not even begun to understand the true power of the company. We know about the lawsuits and the labour protests, but what we don't know is how profoundly the "Wal-Mart effect" is changing our America's economy, our workforce, our communities, and our environment. Journalist Fishman takes us on a behind-the-scenes investigative expedition, interviewing 25 high-level ex-executives and a host of Wal-Mart's suppliers, and journeying to the ports and factories where Wal-Mart's power is warping the very structure of the world's market.--From publisher description.

About the author

Charles Fishman is a senior editor at Fast Company. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award, the highest award in business journalism, and he had been a finalist for the Loeb in three of the last four years. In 2004 his story about Wal-Mart was given the New York Press Club's award for the best magazine story about business. He has appeared regularly on NPR, CNN and Fox News.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Wal-Mart Effect: How an Out-of-town Superstore Became a Superpower
• Author: Charles Fishman
• Edition: 2, reprint
• Publisher: Penguin Books Limited, 2007
• ISBN: 0141019794, 9780141019796
• Length: 336 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / General