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<DIV><SPAN class=890261204-22052006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I am
not well versed in any studies of Wal-Mart, but I find it difficult to
understand how Wal-Mart could be so virulant as to dessimate the fabric of a
community. There surely would be impacts to local businesses, the
surrounding neighborhood, and other aspects of a community, but if the
gross effect was negative, Wal-Mart would not be self-sustaining. I do
understand some of the negative community impacts of a Wal-Mart insertion and
those are some of the issues to be used to determine a proper fit within a
community.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890261204-22052006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890261204-22052006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>So if
it's the business practices of the organization that cannot be aligned with the
wants of the community, then access should be denied. I don't know whether
Wal-Mart University would be filling a need for Moscow or whether Moscow be
filling a need for Wal-Mart University, but I wonder: "Does Moscow want an
alternative - does it want (need) additional something(s) to help provide a
living for its citizens, or is the status quo o.k.?"</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890261204-22052006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890261204-22052006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Mark</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<B>On
Behalf Of </B>Mark Solomon<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 21, 2006 8:41
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Mark Seman; vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE:
[Vision2020] Wal-Mart Equals Higher Poverty Rates<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Mark,</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>The point of the study is not what any particular Walamrt looks like
architecturally or even what goods they sell in an upscale community: it's
what happens to the people who work there and the people displaced by Walmart
entering the local retail community with its predatory practices.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Mark Solomon</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>At 8:06 PM -0700 5/21/06, Mark Seman wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=-1>Moscow can be anywhere on the bell curve it wants. A Wal-Mart
supercenter is in Scottsdale, AZ. Wal-Mart had to shift from its
status quo model to do so. Any community can set standards for which
Wal-Mart would be considered acceptable. To dismiss Wal-Mart because
of its past business model is not being proactive. Any dog can learn
new tricks. Set the parameters and see if Wal-Mart steps up to the
plate. If it's not willing, then it can take a hike. Maybe
that's already been done? Or maybe Wal-mart is just not wanted or
needed in Moscow.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"> </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=-1>Mark</FONT><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=-1>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<B>On
Behalf Of</B> Mark Solomon<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 21, 2006 4:58
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Jerry Weitz; vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[Vision2020] Wal-Mart Equals Higher Poverty Rates</FONT><BR><FONT
size=-1></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>Thanks, Jerry, for the model review. As you rightly point out,
any general study's conclusions have to be treated with a grain of salt
when applied to a specific, in this case, local situation. However, that
does not diminish the study's general conclusion that was derived using
data related to all (about 3000 at the time of the study) Walmart stores.
The authors note:</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT color=#000000 size=+1>Wal-Mart avoids counties with
higher population density (at least until recently) in part<BR>because of
higher land costs in these counties, and while the chain has traditionally
located in<BR>rural communities, it also avoids less populated, more
remote places.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>The above appears to describe Latah County, and Moscow in
particular, fairly well. We may not be in the center of the study's Bell
curve, but I bet we're not too far off to either side.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>Mark</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>At 4:22 PM -0700 5/21/06, Jerry Weitz wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite">I reviewed the Wal-Mart and County-Wide
Poverty and was impressed that they used a two stage regression model
that we use in Medicine/dentistry for epidemiological studies with
multivariates. Briefly and I am not an expert, the first stage (an
unstructured polytomous logistic regression approach) models the effects
of covariates that can be defined by cross-classifications. The
second stage (the subtype-specific regression parameters of the first
stage model) are modeled by using the multivariate structure of
the subtype definitions and the possible ordering of continuous naturing
of certain characteristics. Thus the second stage modeling reduces
dimensional biases. The complexity of variables in economics
causes a study such as this to be suspect and the authors conclusions
kind of let them off the hook in that "Wal-Mart creates both benefits
and costs to communities." So if there are omitted variables
and a spacial dependence bias, then at least two stage modeling
methodology can be efficiently corrected. What was missing for our
region was the effect of large government programs such as CRP: CRP
effects on small ag business such as repair shops, farm supply,
equipment dealerships, fertilizer companies, land value and sales
etc. Other variates such as having a large student population
relative the general population, a declining forest industry,
relative lack of large private sector businesses may be variates that
would require future inquiry.<BR><BR>From my world examples:
PSA for Prostate Cancer Screening. Recall that "an epidimic of
prostate cancer" occured in the media since PSA introduction.
However the question is: would have Noble Laureate Linus Pauling
who died at 93 with prostate cancer would have lived longer with
therapies administered to him with a PSA test at age 60 or would the
therapies caused him to die earlier? Another, would CT for
lung cancer screening for Peter Jennings who died at 67 caused him to
live longer? Presently U. S. Preventive Services Task Force states
"current data do not support screening for lung cancer with any
method." Or another drug study: Bextra (cox-2inhibitor)
where the contol proved to be flawed yet the compaarative study was not
flawed. The drug was thrown out of the market. </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Hence studies are easlily biased and can lead to bad
information/actions. The question to be answered: Would it
be in the interest of Moscow to have commercial development shift to the
corridor? Would this help or hinder the school district revenues
since the district has now stabilized enrollment after significant ADA
declines from the mid 90's. jerry<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>At 03:32 PM
5/17/06, Mark Solomon wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><TT> Social Science Quarterly
Publishes Study: Wal-Mart Equals Higher Poverty Rates<BR><BR>Study
claims Wal-Mart raises poverty rates in the counties where its stores
are located.</TT><BR><TT><BR>MALDEN, Mass./EWORLDWIRE/May 17, 2006 ---
A study published in the latest issue of Social Science Quarterly is
the first to examine the effect of Wal-Mart stores on poverty rates.
The study found that nationwide an estimated 20,000 families have
fallen below the official poverty line as a result of the chain's
expansion.</TT><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE><TT><BR>During the last decade, dependence on the food
stamp program nationwide increased by eight percent while in counties
with Wal-Mart stores, the increase was almost twice as large at 15.3
percent.<BR><BR>"After controlling for other factors determining
changes in the poverty rate over time, we find that counties with more
initial Wal-Mart stores and with more additions of stores between 1987
and 1998 experienced greater increases (or smaller decreases) in
family poverty rates during the 1990's economic boom period," stated
Stephan Goetz a professor of Agricultural and Regional Economics at
The Pennsylvania State University. Although Wal-Mart employs many
people living in its communities, for most, the hours worked and the
wages paid do not help these families transition out of
poverty.<BR><BR>Another effect is that the closing of "mom and pop"
stores following the appearance of a store leads to the closing of
local businesses that previously supplied those stores including,
wholesalers, transporters, logistics providers, accountants, lawyers
and others. Goetz states, "By displacing the local class of
entrepreneurs, the Wal-Mart chain also destroys local leadership
capacity." Social Science Quartely author's encourage community
leaders to think about programs and policies in anticipation of
helping those displaced by the arrival of the chain.<BR><BR>This study
is published in the June issue of Social Science Quarterly. Media
wishing to receive a PDF of this article please contact
journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.<BR><BR>Connecting the Social
Sciences, Social Science Quarterly is nationally recognized as one of
the top journals in the field. It is published on behalf of the
Southwestern Social Science Association.<BR><BR>Dr. Stephan J. Goetz
is a professor of Agricultural and Regional Economics at The
Pennsylvania State University. Before coming to Penn State in 1999, he
served on the faculty at the University of Kentucky for nine years
with research and teaching responsibilities in economic development.
Dr. Goetz is available for questions and interviews.<BR><BR>Blackwell
Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with
665 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800
journals and, to date, has published more than 6,000 books, across a
wide range of academic, medical and professional
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