[ashwinaj]

This seems like an outdated story (seems like it's a 2001 article). (I'm ignoring fundamental problems like corruption etc. below) As far as the anti-foreign investment sentiment goes, it sounds repulsive on face value, but those of us (Indians) who've lived in the US would want a Walmart (just as an example) destroying all the mom and pop shops? I think a cautious approach for foreign investment is the way to go, the income inequalities in India is already pretty bad, opening the floodgates without adequate measures of certain protectionist policies (not blanket protectionism) would make it worse. We need to realize that India is too big a market for multi-national companies to ignore completely; the Indian govt. should have the upper hand in any deal. And it should strike a deal which is in the interest of the Indian people.

[yummyfajitas]

As a person who's shopped at both walmart and local "mom and pop shops", yes. We also want Uber or Ola destroying the local taxi industry, and providing safer and better service to consumers. We want Flipkart or Amazon destroying local retail, Toyota destroying local automotive, etc.

Big scary (sometimes foreign) players only manage to "destroy" a local industry when the local industry is failing to satisfy local customers.

[chimeracoder]

> We

You're speaking neither as an Indian national, an Indian shopowner, or even an employee of a low-margin local business in India.

I understand that people living elsewhere have perspectives on this, as do ex-pats living in India, but those aren't the people who are principally harmed by this. It's very easy to conclude that this is "worth it" when you're only benefiting from it[0] not the one feeling the pain.

[0] 'As a person [from the US] who's shopped at both walmart and local "mom and pop shops" [in India]'

[yummyfajitas]

I'm speaking as a consumer in India - one of the people hurt by the current regime. You seem to want to ignore the value to consumers - why?

Also, what is the relevance of my nationality? I make no secret of it, I'm merely trying to understand why you bring it up.

[ashwinaj]

I agree, but my point is that it should be done conservatively. And you're ignoring the plight of people employed by these companies entirely (which could be you). Here's Uber in the news just lately: http://fortune.com/2015/09/02/uber-lawsuit/

Uber's valuation is: http://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-valued-at-more-than-50-bill...

One might disagree with this valuation, let's assume it's 1/10 th of it. Can they provide health insurance to their drivers? Absolutely yes, but they're solely interested in revenue and being profitable. I don't want to sound like an Uber basher, this is true for most companies; they operate in their own self interest which they arguably should. It's up to the govt. to act as a counter balance to blatantly unjust policies adopted by companies.

[yummyfajitas]

I'm not ignoring them. I simply believe that the benefits to consumers drastically outweigh the harms to producers in every case I've ever seen. I've also observed that in practice that politicians basically don't care about consumers at all.

Also, the "plight" of Uber employees described in that article is that Uber gave them gigs better than their other alternatives, making them better off. But now they are trying to grab more money from Uber via politics. That's a flaw with the political system, not Uber.

Lastly, related to your suggestion that Uber should provide health insurance to drivers, read this essay. It's a wonderful observation about people's thought processes on such topics: http://blog.jaibot.com/the-copenhagen-interpretation-of-ethi...

[hariis]

Generally, the locals do not understand the damage done by Walmart, Amazon and such until it is too late.

One example, http://storyofstuff.org/blog/dear-jeff-bezos-im-leaving/

[CodeSheikh]

I see the gist of this article (which is positive) but some "hunches" of writer are conveniently converted in to facts. Take this for example: "They have to race from one end to the other of warehouses the size of 16 football fields."

Has she ever been inside a warehouse? Or worked at a warehouse? Or have a friend who works there? Sure those warehouses are indeed huge. Not one but multiple football fields long, at least for large retailers. Amabots or selectors or pickers (politically incorrect term but it is often used within warehouses) work in zones or areas. And they work in their zones and areas for months before they are asked to move to a different selection zone. Each zone is the size of roughly two-to-three decent size living rooms. Lets say if item A for an order is located at the southern end of a warehouse and item B is at the northern end then a single selector does not run back and forth to pick those two items. One selector picks item A and then the shipping box (or a pre-shipping plastic box) is routed via electric conveyors to southern end and another selector picks item B. Watch a video on Youtube.

Obviously there are time constraints because that is the nature of the job. A company can ship out items fast only if selectors will pick/select/process them fast enough from the shelf and place them in to the conveying box.

Now most of these people are not "directly" employed by the warehouse retailer (Amazon or Best Buy or Walmart). Third party staffing companies bring them on board. Sure imho that is a dirty business money-saving tactic to keep the liabilities off of you ledger.

Point being. It is very convenient to rant online these days and shove your broken opinions without doing a proper research. And heck I am just a happy consumer who loves her Prime shipping.

[hariis]

The impact is more than warehouse conditions. see this, for example: http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/06/17/with-6000-n...

[melling]

I would think increasing efficiencies and growing the economy would be what's in the best interest of the Indian people. If India had become the 2nd or 3rd biggest economy, along with China, would the average person be better off?

http://www.chinafirstcapital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/201...