Wal-Mart and Home Depot - Annotated Bibliography Example

The source is a valuable beginning to this research project as it approaches the idea of larger corporations forcing smaller companies out of business from a unique perspective. Perhaps a little creativity is what is needed to fight back.

Carden, A., & Courtemanche, C. (2009). Walmart, leisure and culture. Contemporary Economic
Policy, 27(4), 450-461.
This study takes yet another look at Walmart, and similar corporations, and their impact on local communities. The authors, however, do not stop at simply looking at economic data. That data, to be sure, does show a negative impact on many communities and a decline in the number of smaller businesses. From a cultural perspective, however, the authors find some evidence that “Cultural activities may be positive or zero for such cases as attending classical music concerts and visiting art galleries” (Carden & Courtemanche, 2009, p. 450). The authors then use this data to draw parallels between the inclusion of large corporations into a company and the expansion of consumption possibilities in those regions (Carden & Courtemanche, 2009, p. 451). This article provides an opposing viewpoint to this issue that will serve to eliminate bias from the overall study being conducted.

Hicks, M., Keil, S., & Spector, L. (2012). Mom-and-pops or big box stores: Some evidence of
Walmart's impact on retail trade. Economic Development Quarterly, 26(4), 311-320.

In this nearly 20-page study, the authors explore the issues surrounding large corporations, such as Walmart, and the threat they impose on smaller businesses throughout the country. They examine, in detail, “The impact on the retail sector on the counties in which Walmart is located, as well as in surrounding counties, by examining the number and size of retail outlets, by retail category” (Hicks, Keil, & Spector, 2012, p. 311). They discover that smaller businesses must weather the initial storm of a Walmart for a minimum of 18 to 36 months before they can begin to regain any type of competitive edge (Hicks, Keil, & Spector, 2012, p. 312). This is an interesting perspective and one that will certainly be a welcome addition to this study.

Merriman, D., Persky, J., Davis, J., & Baiman, R. (2012). The impact of an urban Walmart store on area businesses: The Chicago case. Economic Development Quarterly, 26(4), 321-333.

These four authors present a most interesting case detailing what happened to smaller area businesses in Chicago when a Walmart opened nearby. The authors cite a claim that about 300 people lost their full-time jobs (Merriman, Persky, Davis, & Baiman, 2012). They also point to statistics that there has been no noticeable increase in sales tax revenue in the area because sales are simply absorbed into the Walmart cash flow, causing smaller businesses to suffer (Merriman, Persky, Davis, & Baiman, 2012). This is a great article that will serve to support the premise of this entire research paper.

Sobel, R., & Dean, A. (2008). Has Walmart buried mom and pop? The impact of Walmart on
self-employment and small establishments in the United States. Economic Inquiry, 46(4),
676-695.
Large corporations, such as Walmart have long been accused of slowly working to undermine the small business culture in the United States. Depending on the area, this criticism can either be justified or not. Sobel and Dean use this article to explore individuals who are self-employed. Specifically, they examine ways that they have been impacted as large businesses become more and more commonplace across the country (Sobel & Dean, 2008). They do so from a balanced perspective and present some interesting facts and figures along the way. This particular study is the most useful of the five sources examined thus far because of its comprehensive approach to all sides of the issue. It will be a worthy addition to the literature currently being examined.