Before I choose to disagree, I would like to understand the topic better. From what I can currently see, though, it makes no sense to me. Why should I have to pay more for local goods just so someone across the world can make more on their version of the same product? How is it that it becomes a human rights issue?
I can only assume I have misunderstood, because it appears like you would stomp on my rights in order to give someone else rights that it doesn't look like they deserve.
If they can't make money with the product they have, they must produce something else. This is no different than anyone else has to do. If they need help getting into a new industry, then I can certainly get behind that. Such a thing benefits them as well as everyone else.
Discuss
Gnos Grajab on January 22, 2008, 6:01 PM
I admit I am not an expert here, but from my understanding, one part of the problem is that developed nations push for the removal of trade barriers that protect industries in developing economies while refusing to remove trade barriers in their own countries. An important case of this is farming. Farming is one of the few areas developing countries can compete in with relatively little investment but countries like the US heavily subsidize their farmers, lowering the price of farm goods below what developing countries can compete with. It’s not a case of our farmers competing directly with other farmers and producing better goods cheaper, which would be fair. Given that such subsidies are hindering the growth of third world countries it contributes to their populations remaining in poverty; this is where it becomes a human rights issue.
This is of course only one part of the problem. There are other areas (worker’s rights, environmental protection) where corporations hinder developing countries because it is more profitable for them to remain cheap labor markets than costly employees with consumer power.
In theory developing nations should be a source of cheap labor for a relatively short period of time. As money flows into the country the standard of living should go up as well as the buying power of the individual. As individual incomes rise the country should become a target for companies to market their goods and services, moving the economy into full integration into the global economy. The problem is that many countries are being stifled from this dream and remaining nothing more than cheap labor markets; never achieving high enough wages to become viable consumers. This is not a result of free market trends but an aberration caused by unfair trade laws and business practices. If this continues the third world will become a collection of ‘slave states’, producing products for the developed countries.
eat joe on February 2, 2008, 12:17 PM
Maria,
I understand these things are going on, and I feel for these people. The things they are going through are absolutely human rights issues, and I never disputed that. What I was curious about is how paying more for foreign market goods rather than cheaper, local goods was going to be an over-all benefit. Yes, it would help them, but it would hurt me and the local economy.
Your comment does not answer this, but I do agree with the part about something needing to be done. Just don’t make the cure as bad or worse than the disease.
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