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Comment by shadowtree | Hacker News Reader

Consumers vote with their wallets that they prefer the big box stores. Reagan removed bargaining restrictions on big box stores, which lowered prices.

Bad or good for consumers?

Does it matter if you need to drive 8 or 11 miles (non-desert vs. desert) to buy boxed cereals and processed food?

CostCo rides the same dynamic, at scale. CostCo deserts?

Want to fix it, HN-style? Create a startup! But more regulation? Ffs.

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This has been covered millions of times, it's almost comical.

Obviously it's initially good for consumers. Then, once competition is eliminated, it gets worse.

Not sure where you get 8 miles vs 11 miles (maybe the definition of a rural food desert?).

> Low access is characterized by at least 500 people and/or 33 percent of the tract population residing more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery in urban areas, and more than 10 miles in rural areas

(source: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45014/30940_er... )

Interestingly enough, this is measured by the euclidian distance, not by the actual number of miles required to travel.

> Create a startup!

A startup that delivers groceries? Interesting idea...

Regulation is what is needed nevertheless

You’re being super disingenuous if you’re comparing it between 8 and 11 miles.

The cut off in the article is at the 10 mile radius for rural areas. 9.9 miles ...not a food desert.

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