MSN's Karen Aho reports some interesting data on the long-term costs of Wal-Mart.  She says that when Wal-Mart moves in, "it promises cheaper goods, more jobs and more tax revenue. And in the short term, it delivers. But the initial boost hides later losses."  It seems that Wal-Mart's initial promises have a "flip side," according to Aho:

•Jobs: Check. But, after an initial boost, studies show a net loss of jobs. •Low prices: Check. So low that wages and benefits are reduced as well. Then the neighbors follow suit. •Tax boosts: Check. But that boost comes at the expense of communities nearby, which tend to lose any businesses that compete. And don't forget to factor in the cost to taxpayers of subsidies for Wal-Mart and public aid to low-wage workers. When Wal-Mart comes to town, "it's a switcheroo," said Nelson Lichtenstein, a professor of history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the author of "The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of Business." "They create jobs now, immediately," he said. "Over time . . . they erode better jobs."