Isn't this good?
I thought outsourcing meant we get cheaper goods like iPhones and laptops. Now we can outsource middle-class service jobs for cheaper services?
I thought outsourcing meant we get cheaper goods like iPhones and laptops. Now we can outsource middle-class service jobs for cheaper services?
Feels like in the medium term, the West survives by importing both goods and skilled engineers/researchers, because it provides a ready-made environment conducive for business. Feels like that is just an aberration that lower cost countries will eventually match.
I’m sick of “American tech startups” that consist of some US-based VC investors, a figurehead “founder”, a few beefy executives who only care about their headshot, and all engineering/manufacturing done in Asia.
It’s not like we can export our realtor and insurance salespeople to 3rd world countries either…
I'm not against realistic economics and open markets leading to a more balanced world, but this is just shark-toothed capitalism with contempt for individuals and the societies the organisations exist in.
The point is that companies rest on the infrastructure of society, they are only possible because of everything from the physical infrastructure of energy to the institutional infrastructure of courts and markets. These things are for the most part provided by the tax base in their home country. There are for the most part rules, laws, and norms about how much and what kind of economic activity must accrue back to the society that incubated and hosts the company.
Arbitraging those rules and norms to extract rents is not in general a social good.
The quote I am replying to stands on its own regarding criticism. "Government" is supposed to just be The People, and preventing "government interference" becomes a dog whistle for "let the market do what it wants, if people with capital use it to further acquire capital at the expense of those without, so be it."
Not saying company X isn't off shoring to save costs and hurting local jobs. But it is also perhaps true that company Y is growing and selling their services/products in N countries but only has jobs in one(or few) of countries perhaps. Why is this fair if the first one isn't ?
Entirely outsourcing all critical goods and services is foolish. Who wants to be vulnerable to the whims of other countries?