Impact of Big-Box Retailers

Another ILSR web site, Big Box Tool Kit is a resource center to help citizens beat the big boxes and chart a new course for economic development in their communities. 

STUDIES & RESEARCH 

Key Studies on Wal-Mart and Big-Box Retail 
Here we have organized the best available research on the impacts of big-box retailers.   We provide summaries of the primary findings of more than two dozen studies that examine such questions as: Does Wal-Mart boost employment? Do big-box stores increase tax revenue? Do independent businesses keep more money circulating locally?

Books & Films
Our recommended reading and watching list.  

Selected Articles from the Hometown Advantage
Read about the latest research on the impact of chain retailers and the benefits of local businesses. Sign-up for the newsletter.

FACT SHEETS

Big-Box Blight: The Spread of Dark Stores
A growing number of towns are inundated with chronically vacant big-box stores and shopping centers. Here's how to prevent big-box blight in your community. (2 pages)

Five Myths About Big-Box Retail
Do big-box stores really create jobs, boost tax revenue, and grow the economy? This fact sheet counters common myths about big-box development. (2 pages)

How Big is Too Big?
Help people visualize and understand just how big these stores are and how their size affects the community and local economy. (2 pages)

Impact of Big-Box Stores on Jobs and Wages
Despite substantial evidence that big-box stores reduce employment and lower wages, many local officials still believe these stores are job creators. Set the record straight. (1 page)

Impact of Big-Box Stores on Taxes and Public Costs
When evaluating retail development proposals, municipal officials often focus on only one side of the equation: the amount of new tax revenue that the project will generate. It's easy to overlook the fact that big-box stores and shopping centers also create new costs. (4 pages)

Impact of Big-Box Stores on Traffic
A 200,000- square-foot superstore typically generates more than 10,000 car trips on weekdays and more on Saturdays.  (1 page)

Locally Owned vs. Chain: The Local Premium
While dollars spent at locally owned stores stimulate the local economy, dollars spent at chains are siphoned out of the community.  (1 page)

Toxic Runoff: How Big-Box Stores Pollute Lakes and Streams
Polluted storm water runoff from big-box parking lots is a major threat to lakes, streams, and estuaries.  (1 page)

Wal-Mart's Impact on Local Police Costs
Many cities report that big-box retailers generate large numbers of police calls, creating new costs for local government and reducing police presence and response times in other areas.   (2 pages)

MAPS & GRAPHS

Retail Spending per Person at Independent and Chain Stores, 1982-2007  — Wal-Mart now captures $1 out of every $10 we spend. 

Sales at Independent and Chain Retailers in the U.S., 1982-2007

Number of Small Retail Firms per 1 Million Population, 1982-2007

Number of Persons per Wal-Mart Store — See which states have the greatest number of stores relative to population. 

 

 Wal-Mart Square Footage per Person — See which states have the greatest expanse of Wal-Mart stores relative to population.

 

 Vacant Wal-Mart Stores — Wal-Mart had 246 vacant or soon-to-be-vacant stores as of June 2007.

How Big are Big-Box Stores? — A visual illustration of the size of different stores.