As the nation's largest private employer, Walmart's decision to pay many of its workers so little that they cannot afford life's necessities has a tremendous, negative impact on the economy-- and on taxpayers. Instead, Walmart encourages its employees to seek welfare subsidies like food stamps. A House of Representatives study found that Walmart, by forcing its employees to rely on government subsidies to survive, costs taxpayers up to $1.74 million per year, even while Walmart makes over $15 billion in profit, annually. Walmart 's per-employee revenue has risen 18% since the recession began.