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Oregon Territory

July 29, 2005 — The Business of Wal-Mart

part one part two

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Wal-Mart now has stores in just about every medium to large community in America. It's the largest retailer, grocer, private employer, and jeweler in the world.

Wal-Mart also owns the nation's largest trucking fleet and employs one out of every 115 Americans.

This week, we explore the business and economics of Wal-Mart. Oregon's land-use laws have slowed the expansion of Wal-Mart in the state, but by no means halted the behemoth of a retailer and grocer. Several fights over proposed Wal-Marts are brewing around the state -- but Wal-Mart sales continue to grow none-the-less.

We'll look at Wal-Mart's business strategy and also answer the question, "Is Wal-Mart responsible for globalization?"

Host: Mitchell Hartman, editor of Oregon Business Magazine

Reporter: Rob Manning, OPB News

Guest: Kimberly Clausing, associate professor of economics at Reed College in Portland; John Dicker, author of the book "The United States of Wal-Mart".

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