Publications [#256369] of Gary Gereffi

Journal Articles

1. Gereffi, G; Christian, M, The impacts of Wal-Mart: The rise and consequences of the world's dominant retailer, Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 35 no. 1 (December, 2009), pp. 573-591, ANNUAL REVIEWS, ISSN 0360-0572 [Gateway.cgi], [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/21)

   Abstract:
   Wal-Mart has been both praised and pilloried as a template for twenty-first century capitalism. Therein lies the challenge in analyzing the world's largest retailer. We examine the sociological impact of Wal-Mart in terms of four themes: its business model and organizational structure, the dual impact of Wal-Mart's labor relations in terms of its own stores and working conditions in its global supply chain, the genesis and effectiveness of community mobilizations against Wal-Mart, and how Wal-Mart's growth is linked to the emergence of buyer-driven commodity chains in the global economy. Wal-Mart underscores the value of a public sociology agenda that embraces three research criteria: the incorporation of new media and audiences, the need to go global with our research, and the ability to work for change from within. Copyright © 2009 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.