Thinking Outside the Big Box: The Relationship between Wal-Mart and Social Capital
Posted: 22 Feb 2011
Abstract
A growing literature attempts to link Wal-Mart's presence in a community to rates of political participation and membership in civic associations. The debate is currently fought out by competing econometric models – some find a negative association between Wal-Mart and social capital, while others find that there is no relationship. To better examine the links that connect Wal-Mart to rates of social capital and civil society, we propose research that goes beyond aggregate statistical work at the county level. Using an original data set on Wal-Mart fights spanning the state of Colorado, we consider whether referenda, city council decisions, or city ordinances hostile to big box retail were used to prevent Wal-Mart from opening stores; we examine how these fights influenced rates of political participation, membership in civic organizations, attitudes regarding political efficacy, and participation in philanthropic organizations at the local level.
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