They're notorious for offering as little as possible to employees and forcing local businesses into bankruptcy. What isn't too commonly known is that that fat boys at Wal-Mart also raked in $1-billion (U.S.) in economic development subsidies.

A new report from Good Jobs First - a Washington, D.C.-based research group - found that corporate subsidies are being handed to Wal-Mart for its ever-growing chain of outlets and distribution centres with the argument that big business leads to the overall economic growth of a region. As the GJF report points out, Wal-Mart's habit is to "take revenues away from existing businesses." The report also argues that Wal-Mart's low wages do little to stimulate an economy.

The Good Jobs First report comes on the heels of a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities that showed states making drastic cuts to funding for such superfluities as child care, education, health insurance and public safety.

» Scott Saxon