"Mitchell traces the dramatic growth of megaretailers - from big boxes like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Costco, and Staples to chains like Starbucks, Olive Garden, Blockbuster, and Old Navy - and the precipitous decline of independent businesses. Drawing on examples from virtually every state in the country, she unearths the extraordinary impact of these companies and the big-box mentality on everything from soaring gasoline consumption to rising poverty rates, failing family farms, and declining voting levels. Along the way, Mitchell exposes the shocking role government policy has played in the expansion of mega-retailers and builds a compelling case that communities composed of many small, locally owned businesses are healthier and more prosperous than those dominated by a few large chains."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 260-298) and index.

1. Chain store world 2. Fading prosperity 3. Community life 4. Blighted landscape 5. Sometimes low prices

6. Monopolized consumers 7. Uncle Sam's invisible hand 8. Communities unchained 9. Declaration of independents.