Research Catalog

Title

The small-mart revolution : how local businesses are beating the global competition / Michael H. Shuman.

Author

Shuman, Michael.

Publication

San Francisco : Berrett-Koehler, [2006], ©2006.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

x, 285 pages; 25 cm

Summary

"Defenders of massive multinational chains like Wal-Mart and Fortune 500 big business argue that, like it or not, there is no alternative. But in The Small-Mart Revolution, Michael Shuman shows that the benefits these megastores and huge corporations supposedly deliver to communities are illusory. Crunch the numbers and you'll find that locally owned businesses turn out to be much more reliable generators of good jobs, economic growth, tax dollars, community wealth, charitable contributions, social stability, and political participation. Unlike their global competitors, they do this without massive tax breaks and subsidies that often put local economies in a permanent hole. Plus, contrary to popular belief, local businesses are competitive with the multinationals - and gaining ground every day. Shuman highlights numerous trends that are making the old "bigger is better" economies-of-scale argument obsolete, and he describes a variety of innovative strategies these businesses are using to successfully compete with their oversized competitors. He also shows how consumers, investors, and policymakers can support their own communities by "going local.""--BOOK JACKET.

Subjects

• Small business > United States
• Globalization > Economic aspects > United States
• Import substitution > United States

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-270) and index.

Contents

Introduction : from Wal-Mart to small-mart -- 1. Wreckonomics -- 2. The LOIS alternative -- 3. Amazing shrinking machines -- 4. Consumers -- 5. Investors -- 6. Entrepreneurs -- 7. Policymakers -- 8. Community builders -- 9. Globalizers -- App. A. The fall and rise of small-scale competitiveness -- App. B. The scale of existing business by payroll.

ISBN

1576753867

LCCN

2006040671

OCLC

• OCM62889151
• SCSB-5932180

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries