Stacy Mitchell Wal-Mart. Home Depot. Walgreens. The proof of corporate retail expansion is evident at almost every freeway exit ramp. But at what cost? A blighted landscape. A lack of diversity. The demise of community. An environmental crisis. Stacy Mitchell’s manifesto arms us for the fight.

About the author:
Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project, a program of the nonprofit Institute for Local Self-Reliance. A frequent speaker at conferences and public forums, she has advised numerous communities on strategies and policies to strengthen locally owned businesses. Her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses (Beacon Press, 2006), was described by author Bill McKibben as "the ultimate account of the single most important economic trend in our country." Mitchell regularly contributes articles and commentaries to magazines and newspapers, and produces an acclaimed email newsletter, "The Hometown Advantage Bulletin". She lives in Portland, Maine.