That's a huge, huge question that lots of people study. You could write books and books on it. But here's a few things to think about.
There are certain things that you need to be big in order to do. You can't make an airplane or earth moving equipment if you aren't a big company. Big companies also can have an impact that small companies can't.
Wal-mart's emphasis on low costs has decreased the cost of living in the US. It also was a major contributor to taking waste out of the system - they have caused package sizes to be reduced, and were a major proponent of concentrated detergents, which reduced transportation costs and fuel consumption for transportation. Studies have shown that retail wages do go down in the areas in which they open their stores.
Even as the cost of living goes down, so there is a negative effect. We can compare that to India, which has only small stores, no multinational stores are allowed to operate there - until a ruling this week that will now open India up to multinational owners. Cost of goods is very high in India, and the supply chain is doesn't work very well.
It is estimated that 1/3 of all produce rots before making it to market. If Wal-mart is able to open stores in India they will will bring operational efficiencies and clean up the supply chain, which will result in less waste, lower costs but will probably result in driving small stores out of business.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.