Walmart’s Economic Crisis
What can and/or should be done to stop these practices?
The U.S. government should develop regulative industrial policies that control operations of a company. These policies ought to regulate the production standards of these goods as well as the welfare of the labor used in the line of production and commerce. Evidently, Walmart does not follow critical labor laws (Hsu). This will ensure that all products availed in the U.S. market that are produced in other countries follow ethical standards of production especially the international labor laws and wage rates.
Who is responsible for the perpetuation of such practices? (Hint: if you are unsure, do some research to learn more about the dynamics of globalization.)
Bill Clinton introduced the free trade in the 1990s when they wanted to bring in the cheap goods that would replace similar products bought from developed countries but expensive. The biggest mistake the policy made back then is that it did not ensure that the produced products are of high quality and do not wipe out the struggling local companies (McBride & Mohammed). People were rendered jobless as even the local businesses such as Walmart shifted their processing plants to these enterprises.
Are these practices really condemnable, considering the fact that for some people .25 cents/hr. may be the difference between eating and starving?
It is unbelievable that the company makes income in tune of billions while their workers are not provided with medical care and their families. What makes the matter worse is that their pay is too low to afford personal insurance; making the workers opt to seek state or federal medical insurance (Abrams). Walmart does not care about the welfare of the people. This exploitation and general malpractice must be exterminated immediately.
What responsibility do American consumers have, if any, to find out where and under what conditions the products they buy were made? How often do you think about and/or pay attention to the where the products you purchase as a consumer are produced?
The people of America have the duty of ensuring that they buy their goods from firms that uphold the welfare of workers. The primary challenge that comes with buying from the ethical producers is that their products are often highly priced as they have to cater for the high cost incurred when providing for the welfare of the workers (Houseman 15). Additionally Americans ought to prioritize on quality, rather than quantity.
How would a conflict theorist analyze the practices of Walmart type corporations and the many other corporations which operate with profit being the ultimate goal? How would a functionalist analyze these same practices?
The desire to create abnormal profits calls for unfair production practices. This creates conflicts as it creates a bone of contention as the competitors are faced with unfair competition. Businesses close as they cannot survive the abnormally low prices (Abbasi 2). A theorist will view Walmart as a company that has provided the society with affordable goods. The goods are an opportunity for the community to purchase a …
