National Reporting: The Wal-Mart Effect
The following stories were submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration.
First of Three Parts
Wal-Mart is so powerful that it moves the economies of entire countries, bringing profit and pain. The prices can't be beat, but the wages can.
November 23, 2003
H. Lee Scott Jr., 54, joined Wal-Mart in 1979, overseeing the company's trucking fleet. He gained a reputation as a master of logistics, moved into sales and merchandise, and became CEO in 2000. A friendly, plain-spoken man, Scott sat down in his office talked about where the company has been and where it is going:
November 23, 2003
Second of Three Parts
Wal-Mart, once a believer in buying American, extracts ever lower prices from 10,000 suppliers worldwide. Workers struggle to keep pace.
November 24, 2003
Sewing contractor Rob Reed shut down his Commerce factory this summer after 17 years, laying off 100 workers and adding his name to a long list of bankrupt U.S. manufacturers.
November 24, 2003
Safe working conditions. Reasonable hours. No child labor.
November 24, 2003
Third of three parts
Wal-Mart plans to open 40 of its nonunion Supercenters in California. Labor is fighting the expected onslaught, but the big retailer rarely concedes defeat.
November 25, 2003
Wal-Mart is growing fast in China, where its stores are local attractions. The firm's overseas empire is changing buying habits in 10 nations.
November 25, 2003
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