Wal-Mart raises poverty rates in counties where stores are located.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)

A study published in 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. During the last decade, dependence on the food stamp program nationwide increased by 8 percent, while in counties with Wal-Mart stores the increase was almost twice as large at 15.3 percent. 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. Another effect is ...