As the 2008 elections begin to heat up, concerns ranging from health care to wages and employment dominate the domestic political discourse. In these discussions, Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, is often vilified as an evil corporate empire determined to place profits before its employees. Are such characterizations true or is Wal-Mart actually improving the standard of living of Americans through job creation and affordable products? In their book The Wal-Mart Revolution (AEI Press, 2006), authors Richard Vedder and Wendell Cox analyze the available economic data to determine Wal-Mart’s impact on consumers, employee wages and benefits (including health care), and local economies.
 
Please join us as economist Richard Vedder and Wal-Mart Watch founder Andrew Grossman investigate and evaluate the impact of Wal-Mart on the economic well-being of Americans. Columnist Michael Barone addresses the impact of the Wal-Mart issue on the 2008 elections and AEI’s director of economic policy studies, Kevin A. Hassett, moderates.