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NEWS: Fred Charatan Largest retailer in US enters healthcare reform debate BMJ 2009; 339: b2747 [Full text]

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Health care insurance key political issue in the USA

Edwin R. van Teijlingen, Emma Pitchforth   (11 July 2009)

Health care insurance key political issue in the USA 11 July 2009
Edwin R. van Teijlingen, Professor of Maternal & Perinatal Health Research Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, BH1 3LT, Emma Pitchforth Send response to journal: Re: Health care insurance key political issue in the USA	There is a growing literature on Wal-Mart, which is not only the largest private employer in the USA as Charatan noted,[1] but it is also the world’s largest retailer.[2] Wal-Mart’s effect on society has been raised by many researchers, for example, its pricing policies, its distribution system, the treatment of its employees, its anti-trade union stance, the impact on communities (especially rural ones), and small retailers.[2-5] This has generated a lot of “unwelcome publicity” for Wal-Mart.[5] The public outcry is spurred partly from Wal-Mart’s low wages and substandard health care benefits to its non-unionized employees,[6] and it is claimed by critics that Wal-Mart’s employees have to be in part supported by public subsidies for health care and public services.[4] In the light of this Wal-Mart’s unexpected support for Obama’s health reforms as reported by Charatan seem strange. Most likely it a case of Wal-Mart seeing the way the wind is blowing and recognizing that Obama’s plans for health reform are much more likely to be accepted than Clinton’s ever were. It seems to be that Wal-Mart unusual siding with trade unions in the USA is a case of jumping before being pushed. References 1. Charatan, F. (2009). Largest retailer in US enters healthcare reform debate (news). BMJ 339:b2747 2. Jia, P. (2008). What happens when Wal-Mart comes to town: An empirical analysis of the discount retailing industry. Econometrica 76: 1263-1316. 3. Lavallee, T.M., Boyer, M.A. (2006). Globalization and local governance: Implications from Wal-Mart’s expansion. Int Stud Perspect 7:, 254-266. 4. Carden, A, Courtemanche, C., Meiners, J. (2009). Does Wal-Mart Reduce Social Capital? Publ Choice 138: 109-136. 5. Graff, T.O. (2006). Unequal competition among chains of supercenters: Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart. Prof Geogr 58: 54-64. 6. Volpe III, R.J., Lavoie, N. (2008). The Impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on Grocery Prices in New England. Rev Agri Econ, 30: 4-26. Competing interests: None declared