LOWER PRICES, BUT AT WHAT COST?

There was a protest in Bangkok today from shopkeepers who are trying to halt the expansion of multi-nationals like Tesco and Carrefour. Both chains are expanding here in Thailand, bringing lower prices but forcing many of the traditional stores to close as a result.
Controversially I am on the side of the big boys here. Why should consumers pay more than they have to? Yes, you can argue that this will mean an end to the traditional shops that are found throughout the country, but all you have to do is look at the UK. When Tesco and the like built out-of-town superstores it did hit the town centres - but in many cases they have adapted and built a new niche for themselves. Now people are going back to the town centres to get the things they simply can't get from the bigger stores.
I fear the Thai Government will introduce new laws to protect the shopkeepers. just for the sake of keeping the locals happy. In my view that is a very short-sighted and nationalistic view. Can you imagine the outcry if, for example, the Blue Dragon chain of Thai restaurants were to be prevented from opening in London because the UK wanted to protect the humble fish and chip shop. Okay, not a perfect example but you know where I am coming from ...