Wal-Marts' 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. While there have been other books on Wal-Mart, none has provided scholarly economic analysis of the impact of this retail giant. The Local Economic Impact of Wal-Mart is the first to fill this gap with a critical review of the existing literature; it also provides significant empirical evidence which highlights important questions. This book will be a critical addition for all collections in Business, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology."The author is interested in facts. He asks the right questions and provides the answers that thorough research suggests. He surveys the weight of evidence and analysis in the existing literature, and adds some informed insights of his own. This is what good economists are supposed to do. There are no wild claims or hidden agendas here. This book is a triumph of empiricism over mysticism." - Lawrence W. Reed, President, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Midland, Michigan