Another Wal-Mart Topic...

[John_James]

@danbeaulieu

but is inflation beneficial?

That’s like asking “is dying beneficial”? Beneficial to whom…?

@danbeaulieu

My question still hasn’t been answered. It has more to do with how far do we push the “it’s beneficial to society” notion before it becomes unbeneficial, Wal-Mart is more of a convenient scapegoat.

To rephrase my question into a more extreme and unrealistic manner, which I understand will become beyond irrational:

Assume this is the future. Assume there was a long term widespread need for the people to be frugal, say a 40 year long depression. Assume every single store in the United States, including gas stations and corner marts are now Wal-Mart. Assume that just as with the honey brand cream soda the people of earlier generations “selected” only oatmeal as their good.

Other industries around the United States close their doors all together but the oatmeal industry alone (somehow) provides full employment for the whole country.

Have we benefited?

You’re getting too wrapped up in this notion of “benefit”. The real point is, “benefit” is largely subjective, and is determined by the individual in question, and his values and his needs. Your question implies the same flawed assumption that central planners hold: people can (and do) know better for others than they themselves. In other words, “I know what’s best for you.” This is actually currently under discussion in another thread.

Thomas Sowell wrote an entire treatise on this.