Edited by one of America's pre-eminent labour historians, this book marks an ambitious effort to dissect the full extent of Wal-Mart's business operations, its social effects, and its role in the U.S. and world economy. Wal-Mart is is based on a spring 2004 conference of leading historians, business analysts, sociologists, and labour leaders that immediately attracted the attention of the national media, drawing profiles in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the New York Review of Books. The contributions here are adapted here for a general audience. At the end of the 19th century the Pennsylvania Railroad declared itself "the standard of the world." In more recent years, IBM and then Microsoft seemed the template for a new, global information economy. But at the dawn of the 21st century, Wal-Mart has overtaken all rivals as the world-transforming economic institution of our time. Presented in an accessible "field guide" format, and extensively illustrated with charts and graphs, Wal-Mart examines such topics as the giant retailer's managerial culture, revolutionary use of technological innovation, and controversial pay and promotional practices. Wal-Mart is the most complete guide yet available to America's largest company.

Author Biography

Nelson Lichtenstein is a professor of history at the University of California. He is the author of Walter Reuther, Labor's War at Home, and State of the Union.