Environmental Factors Paper Ashley C MKT/421 February 24, 2012 Gary White

Environmental Factors Paper Wal-Mart is one of the world’s largest retail stores across the nation. They are the leaders in employment opportunity, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy (Wal-Mart, 2012). Wal-Mart has 10,020 stores in more than 28 countries. They employ 2.2 million people and serve 176 million customers per year (Wal-Mart, 2012). This paper will look at Wal-Mart and analyze environmental factors that have effects on Wal-Marts marketing decisions both domestically and internationally. Global Economic Interdependence and the Effect of Trade Practices and Agreements Global Economics Interdependence is defined by the business dictionary as, “mutual dependence at a global level” (Business dictionary, 2012). This is where one country depends on another country and that country will depend on another country and so on; this will eventually mean global independence (Business dictionary, 2012). Importing and exporting different goods is a large part of Global Economic Interdependence. Wal-Mart does everything in their power to help the customers save money on the products and merchandise they purchase by offering these products at lower prices than many of their competitors. People throughout the world want to shop at a place that they know will save them money and even possibly time. Wal-Mart is continually increasing their customer base because of the low prices and one-stop-shopping. This is helping with the sustainability of Wal-Mart stores. Wal-Mart would not be able to offer these low prices to their customers if it were not for China. China supplies the