An inside look into the controversy over the Wal-Mart way of doing business, investigating whether the retail giant changed the American economy. (Aired 2004)
In “Is Wal-Mart Good for America?,” FRONTLINE offered two starkly contrasting images: one of empty storefronts in Circleville, Ohio, where the local TV manufacturing plant had closed down; the other, a sea of high rises in the South China boomtown of Shenzhen. The connection between American job losses and soaring Chinese exports? Wal-Mart. Through interviews with retail executives, product manufacturers, economists and trade experts, correspondent Hedrick Smith does a deep dive into the company’s business practices.
CHAPTERS:
Prologue – 00:00
Wal-Mart’s Retail Power – 01:17
Muscling Manufacturers – 11:41
What’s Behind Wal-Mart’s Low Prices – 18:57
The Rise of “Made in China” – 28:26
Losing Jobs in U.S. Manufacturing – 40:11
Credits – 53:12