Comments on: China, Wal-Mart, and Inequality http://cafehayek.com/2008/07/china-wal-mart.html where orders emerge Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: John Dewey http://cafehayek.com/2008/07/china-wal-mart.html/comment-page-1#comment-27457 John Dewey Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:49:21 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=3183#comment-27457 <p>Dallas, I completely agree.</p> Dallas, I completely agree.

]]> By: Dallas http://cafehayek.com/2008/07/china-wal-mart.html/comment-page-1#comment-27456 Dallas Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:56:29 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=3183#comment-27456 <p>Along with helping the poor get equal functionality, the Wal-Mart's of the world are creating world peace. Our DOD needs a real enemy and you keep seeing statements that demonize China. It is hard to use a bunch of 14th century war lords and barbarians to justify nuclear subs, stealth fighters and other multi-billion dollar programs. However, Wal-Mart is making us so economically interdependent, our political class can't behave as aggressively as they would like. China needs the jobs and we need the goods. </p> Along with helping the poor get equal functionality, the Wal-Mart's of the world are creating world peace. Our DOD needs a real enemy and you keep seeing statements that demonize China. It is hard to use a bunch of 14th century war lords and barbarians to justify nuclear subs, stealth fighters and other multi-billion dollar programs. However, Wal-Mart is making us so economically interdependent, our political class can't behave as aggressively as they would like. China needs the jobs and we need the goods.

]]> By: John Dewey http://cafehayek.com/2008/07/china-wal-mart.html/comment-page-1#comment-27455 John Dewey Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:13:31 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=3183#comment-27455 <p><em>Chris: "It's the very sort of store that the anti-Walmart crowd complains is driven out of business by Walmart."</em></p> <p>Any company - very large or very small - should be driven out by Walmart if the company is not providing sufficient value to its customers. I think we agree on this point.</p> <p>I guess I'm just sick and tired of hearing that crap from the anti-Walmart crowd - that small businesses are somehow noble endeavors that deserve to survive. Why should anyone care about inefficient and out-of-touch small businesses?</p> <p>I have owned a small retail business for the past 15 years. I've had to adjust my product offerring and my pricing in order to remain competitive with the "big guys". I neither need nor desire any sympathy or assistance from leftist interventionists. <br /> </p> Chris: "It's the very sort of store that the anti-Walmart crowd complains is driven out of business by Walmart."

Any company – very large or very small – should be driven out by Walmart if the company is not providing sufficient value to its customers. I think we agree on this point.

I guess I'm just sick and tired of hearing that crap from the anti-Walmart crowd – that small businesses are somehow noble endeavors that deserve to survive. Why should anyone care about inefficient and out-of-touch small businesses?

I have owned a small retail business for the past 15 years. I've had to adjust my product offerring and my pricing in order to remain competitive with the "big guys". I neither need nor desire any sympathy or assistance from leftist interventionists.

]]> By: Chris http://cafehayek.com/2008/07/china-wal-mart.html/comment-page-1#comment-27454 Chris Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:19:58 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=3183#comment-27454 <p>John Dewey --</p> <p> Agree completely. I chose my example because it's a case of a small, locally-owned shop. It's the very sort of store that the anti-Walmart crowd complains is driven out of business by Walmart.</p> John Dewey –

Agree completely. I chose my example because it's a case of a small, locally-owned shop. It's the very sort of store that the anti-Walmart crowd complains is driven out of business by Walmart.

]]> By: Hammer http://cafehayek.com/2008/07/china-wal-mart.html/comment-page-1#comment-27453 Hammer Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:46:38 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=3183#comment-27453 <p>Dave: It is not a question of what they can consume so much as what they do. There is little marginal utility for getting an HDTv with mahogony paneling, but it looks fancy. For 1/6th the price though you could get one that is basic plastic, and does the exact same thing functionally, just less aesthically.<br /> That is the beauty of Wal-Mart and it's kin: one can get more function for less money. </p> <p>Consider some 50-60 years ago when most families couldn't afford a tv or more than one car. The rich did not have such limits on functionality. Now, even most "below poverty" families in the US have multiple Tvs and cars. Maybe the rich have 300 cars that are really expensive, but the marginal utility is nearly all cosmetic at that point.</p> <p>When the main differences in purchasing power are not based on function but status, you have a relatively narrow gap. Compare to places like China where many people consider furniture we buy in Wal-Mart for a pittance something to save for.</p> Dave: It is not a question of what they can consume so much as what they do. There is little marginal utility for getting an HDTv with mahogony paneling, but it looks fancy. For 1/6th the price though you could get one that is basic plastic, and does the exact same thing functionally, just less aesthically.
That is the beauty of Wal-Mart and it's kin: one can get more function for less money.

Consider some 50-60 years ago when most families couldn't afford a tv or more than one car. The rich did not have such limits on functionality. Now, even most "below poverty" families in the US have multiple Tvs and cars. Maybe the rich have 300 cars that are really expensive, but the marginal utility is nearly all cosmetic at that point.

When the main differences in purchasing power are not based on function but status, you have a relatively narrow gap. Compare to places like China where many people consider furniture we buy in Wal-Mart for a pittance something to save for.

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