Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-319) and indexes.

Wal-Mart's ubiquity presents a potential problem for policymakers confronting local issues (zoning, infrastructure, taxation, etc.) which influence the location of new stores. Despite a proliferation of Wal-Mart related writing, the consensus among researchers writing peer review work is far less conclusive than either the critics or advocates of the retailer contend. This makes disentangling the effect of Wal-Mart on local economies increasing difficult. This book provides a critical review of the existing literature; it also provides significant empirical evidence which highlights important questions.--Publisher.

SACFinal081324