The world as we know it runs on a greedy economy spiraling down in support of corporate manipulation of consumerism. Resources are expeditiously being used up and governments are subjecting less developed countries to create an abundance of useless products under slave wages and conditions.
Consumerism encourages unethical and environmentally destructive, “free trade,” by its psychological effect on people, the evolving manipulation of consumer values, such as Green Consumerism, and the effect of specific established laws to protect these corporations set after The Great Depression. The first step of an ethical free trade system is to understand what it means to be a smart consumer, a revolution for ethical policies in government worldwide, and thirdly to revert free trade to its original values when it was first theorized by Adam Smith.
Is free trade really all that terrible? In a free trade system countries benefit from the use of comparative advantage. An example of this is China’s advantage in manufacturing electronics. Right now China produces over 90% of all rare earths in the world, however, because of this advantage they are able to produce electronics partially derived from rare earths more efficiently. The advantage of efficiency results in cheaper prices yet allows China to still generate revenue to import valuable resources, like oil from Russia. However, the drawbacks of Free Trade are made indubitably apparent in third world countries. When a corporation shifts its facilities overseas into these countries they are not usually required to follow human rights regulations. Therefore the corporations make a ridiculous amount of profits unethically from not having to pay employee benefits.
There is one aspect ...
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...s Producer Acquires Mining Firms." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. .
Rich, Alex K.English, Marlanda. "Free Trade: An Overview." Points Of View: Free Trade (2013): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_005345.pdf
Roth, J. D. "The New Way to Get Rich Slowly." Get Rich Slowly. Getrichslowly.org, 8 June 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .
"US Election: 40 Percent Of Americans Won’t Vote For President." The Inquisitr News. Inquisitr, 6 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 May 2014.
The term globalization varies from person to person. A consumer typically associates globalization with a store producing more goods, stocking inventory, and updating their styles, however; an anthropological definition of globalization is, “the worldwide intensification of interactions and increased movement of money, people, goods, and ideas within and across national borders,” (Guest, 19). Globalization of the clothing industry is about the “search of cheap, reliable labor to meet the industry’s tight margins,” (Timmerman 7). Timmerman suggests that globalization change our lives and can be for the good or for the bad (8). Globalization is often viewed as a mutual and beneficial process for those involved, because it is perceived as helping those out who are in poverty get a job and make money for their families. On the other hand, it is viewed as a horrific way to abuse individuals in different countries by paying them tremendously trifling wages, working in strident conditions, and overall being treated inadequately by the factory owners. United States corporations exploit different countries around the world such as, China, Indonesia, Mexico and
According to a study done by Nonprofit Vote only “an estimated 58.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote” ("Voter Turnout" ) in 2012’s presidential election, which is below the 62% that was achieved in 2008. (Ginsberg 306). According to the United States Census Bureau in 2012 71.2 percent of Americans reported that they were registered to vote, but only 61.8 reported that they actually did so. ("Voting and Registration"). While each source didn’t report the exact same statistics in America these percentages are considered highs in political participation. Even worse, in midterm elections voter turnout is normally closer to 33% and even lower for any local elections. (Ginsberg 306). While we may consider any of those statistics good for America, looking at world democracies we are trailing far behind, in many “European countries and other western democracies [the] national voter turnout is usually between 70 to 90 percent.”(Ginsberg 306). The question is then asked why don’t American’s vote, which is then an...
Free trade comes with its share of pros and cons. It is responsible for increased economic growth, better business environments, encourages investment
"Economy & Trade." Office of the United States Trade Representative. Office of the United States Trade Representative, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
The United States has for over two centuries been involved in the growing world economy. While the U.S. post revolutionary war sought to protect itself from outside influences has since the great depression and world war two looked to break trade restrictions. The United States role in the global economy has grown throughout the 20th century and as a result of several historical events has adopted positions of both benefactor and dependent. The United States trade policy has over time shifted from isolationist protectionism to a commitment to establishing world-wide free trade. Free trade enterprise has developed and grown through organizations such as the WTO and NAFTA. The U.S. in order to obtain its free trade desires has implemented a number of policies that can be examined for both their benefits and flaws. Several trade policies exist as options to the United States, among these fair trade and free trade policies dominate the world economic market. In order to achieve economic growth the United States has a duty to maintain a global trade policy that benefits both domestic workers and industry. While free trade gives opportunities to large industries and wealthy corporate investors the American worker suffers job instability and lower wages. However fair trade policies that protect America’s workers do not help foster wide economic growth. The United States must then engage in economic trade policies that both protect the United States founding principles and secure for tomorrow greater economic stability.
Trading internationally, along with foreign trading policies has always been a controversial issue in America. Free trade is just as taboo if not more so. Today, the United States has made an attempt to maintain an open market of trading. Free trading greatly benefits a nation’s economy. The history of trade in The United States dates back over half a century ago. Through a substantial part of history, the United States had implemented rather extensive barriers and restrictions regarding importation, in order to better protect domestic suppliers from any serious foreign rivalry. Regardless, of Government restrictions and barriers set in place to avoid foreign competition it is healthy for our nation to have motivation and have the desire to
America’s current standard of living is going to cause our demise. Consumerism is a problem throughout Americans culture since mass production began in the late nineteenth century. The obsession with consumerism has led to mindless wastes of resources, a diseased society and economic instability. Rick Wolff, a professor of economics at University of Massachusetts, states “economics of capitalism spread consumerism—now uncontrolled, ecologically harmful, and fiscally disastrous—throughout the United States”. Wolff’s viewpoint on consumerism aligns with mine. Believing that an economy based on promoting endless consumption is volatile and unsustainable. Consumerism can be analyzed and seen to be embedded by corporations and politicians.
As Ian Fletcher pointed out in Free Trade Doesn’t Work: What Should Replace it And Why, nations need a well-chosen balance between openness and closure toward the larger world economy (Fletc...
Roberts, Russell. (2006). The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
While free trade has certainly changed with advances in technology and the ability to create external economies, the concept seems to be the most benign way for countries to trade with one another. Factoring in that imperfect competition and increasing returns challenge the concept of comparative advantage in modern international trade markets, the resulting introduction of government policies to regulate trade seems to result in increased tensions between countries as individual nations seek to gain advantages at the cost of others. While classical trade optimism may be somewhat naïve, the alternatives are risky and potentially harmful.
Free trade is a form of economic policy which allows countries to import and export goods among each other with no government interference. In recent years there has been a general consensus in economist’s stance on free trade. They view free trade as an asset. Free trade allows for an abundance of goods with increased varieties and increased availability. The products become cheaper for consumers and no one company monopolizes an industry. The system of free trade has been highly controversial. While free trade benefits consumers it has the potential to hurt manufacturers and businesses thus creating a debate between supporters of free trade and those with antagonistic positions.
Free trade in today’s economy allows so much more than just jobs and goods at lower prices for Americans. Compared to the foreign competition, the free trade benefits outweigh any risks the foreign competition might impose on the US. As said by Denise Froning in her article, free trade benefits in four ways. “Free trade promotes innovation and competition, Free trade generates economic growth, Free trade disseminates democratic values, and Free trade fosters economic freedom.” Societies that enact free trade policies create their own economic enthusiasm, nurturing freedom, job opportunities, and success that benefit every citizen. Free trade is the only type of fair trade because it offers consumers the most choices and best standards to improving their type of living. Also by fostering opportunitie...
Net Mohr Angie, “Economic Benefits of Free Trade” http://smallbusiness.chron.com/economic-benefits-trade-1069.html. Accessed November 28, 2011.
America is the odd one out when one looks at its political activity. An article from the Huffington Post explicitly shows the current apathy toward voting. The United States as of 2012 sat at a measly 38 percent voter turnout. The United States’ political participation rates vary by class.