Question

Many people love Wal-Mart and Microsoft.  Many people hate these companies and accuse them of acting like monopolies.  What is wrong with these companies and other “big businesses?”  What steps, if any, can the government take to ensure competition?  Are there any potential unintended consequences or negative repercussions of these proposals?  Explain.

Answer 1

In recent years Walmart had participated in “lock-ins”, (Walmart also owns sam’s club). Lock-ins lock in employees over night to stock shelves and clean. The doors can only be opened during a fire or when the manager unlocks the door. An employee got injured and couldn’t leave due to fear of losing their job. This is why they refer to Walmart as a monopoly. The government has labor laws in place to prevent poor work conditions like this.