Fury erupts as India opens door to Wal-Mart, other big foreign firms

[xchrom]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-india-walmart-20111126,0,7284957.story


Vendors wait for customers at a vegetable market in New Delhi. Experts predict that stepped-up competition as big foreign retailers are allowed to set up shop will sharply reduce the number of small businesses in India — the nation’s second-largest employer after farming. But benefits are also predicted. (Gurinder Osan, Associated Press / January 12, 2011)

Reporting from New Delhi—
The Indian Parliament adjourned in an uproar Friday over the government's decision to let large international retailers enter this long-protected market, leading an opposition leader to threaten to burn down any Wal-Mart that opened in the country.

The fury underscores the gap between the India of glitzy shopping centers, conspicuous consumption and increasingly efficient service catering to a rapidly emerging middle class and the India of dusty shops, limited inventory and 5-cent shampoo packets serving hundreds of millions of poor.

It also reflects the debate over whether the world's second-most-populous country should embrace economic reform, globalization and competition, or remain true to its socialist roots, protecting small shopkeepers at the cost of innovation.

The government predicted that the move, which doesn't require parliamentary approval, would generate 10 million jobs, spur efficiency and attract much-needed foreign investment.

[DCBob]

1. "protecting small shopkeepers at the cost of innovation." -- good luck with that.

I hope they can survive but something tells me it will turn out much like it did here.

[kristopher]

17. Japan has done it.

They have a big box store law that gives veto power to local shop-owners over the opening of any store larger than what we would consider a small supermarket. I love shopping there and the quality of goods puts the products on the shelves of our retailers to shame.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Maybe India can contribute to bringing the Walmart empire down for ever

[Enthusiast]

3. They should resort to violence.

I'm just saying.

[FreakinDJ]

4. "But benefits are also predicted" - where have we heard that Lie before

[xchrom]

5. +1 -- there were no big box stores when i was growing up.

we're not better as a country for having them.

[SnakeEyes]

10. Man, I can't even imagine that...

I was in 78 and big box stores already existed.

[SnakeEyes]

15. err.. born in 78

[awoke_in_2003]

12. "where have we heard that Lie before"

NAFTA, CAFTA, and every other "free trade" agreement we have been suckered into. This will drive the street markets, with their individual vendors, out of business.

on edit: I love markets. I grew up visiting this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Side_Market

[Citizen Worker]

6. Capitalism will not be satisfied until every culture has been homogenized.

[MisterP]

7. technically, the homogenization is that they're all rendered into commodities

the culture remains different from the US's--but it's now a marketable product a la Apple

[bluedigger]

8. Are the Chinese okay with it?

Then go ahead.:shrug:

[FreakinDJ]

13. No they are not

They have been protesting the "Wealth Gap" for a while now

[Vincardog]

9. In my experience when T{TB predict "This will generate 10 million jobs" it will COST 100 Million

[marmar]

11. And here begins the end of India's expanding middle class.

nt

[FreakinDJ]

14. DING DING DING - We have a Winner Folks

[Fokker Trip]

16. This is truly terrible.

Despite a crazy huge population, India was a model that seemed to still enshrine things on a human scale. People still seemed to care for each other. It has always been in such stark contrast when compared to China.

All the farmer suicides thanks to Monsanto (ohh who has Monsanto people in their presidential administration again?) and now this.

I wonder if they will be able to replicate the incredibly horrible air quality of every Wal-mart that I've ever been into. Part desperation part toxic fumes. Its like the Colonel's secret recipe. Yucccch.