Gary,
From the article - According to the current policy, foreign investment is banned in lottery and gambling, atomic energy (except mineral exploration) and retail. I can understand the gambling and atomic energy as social and security reasons, but RETAIL - this is clearly Protectionism, and it is BAD for India or any other country that does it. Don't say "for India it's different" - it's not!
You also left out the fact that these demonstrations are being orchistrated by India's Communist (Marxist) party. Gee, I wonder why they're protesting Walmart?
The protests are political flag waving. India will gain jobs are a result of this, not lose them.
We have to send those guys a shipload of Beatles White Album ASAP so they can get Lennon's lecture in music that you can marginalize yourself with Communist iconography.
CF, I have no doubt that the CPI is exploiting this controversy. I'd not be surprised if it was behind the website I cited. However, that doesn't make the issues that are being raised any less valid.
Gary,
Can you give me one example where allowing foreign competition/investment (such as Walmart in India) has been a long term negative for the hosting country?
Because I can give you plenty of examples where this kind of political-ized protectionism has had disasterous long term consequences for not only the country as a whole, but for the parties they were trying to protect as well.
I'm not making a general case against foreign competition/investment, so the premise of your question is misplaced, CF.
Commenting by HaloScan
