Abstract This paper analyzes and examines sweatshop laborpolicies. Part II describes the nature of the problem involving sweatshops. In Part III, various options for solving the problem involving sweatshops are examined. Lastly, this paper concludes by outlining which solution is best and why.
From the Paper "Sweatshops are factories where large corporations pay individuals obscenely low wages (i.e., sometimes as low as pennies per hour) for performing menial labor such as sewing clothing. Although sweatshops are generally located in third world countries, there have been numerous high-profile cases in recent years that have exposed sweatshops in the United States. The main problem with sweatshops is that they are more that just labor abuse; when you find a sweatshop you?ll also find social injustice, poverty, discrimination, abuse of women, and environmental damage. In other words, sweatshops are a well-connected problem, with roots deeply ingrained in our cultural, economic, political, and social systems. "
Abstract This paper examines how, for over 20 years, workers have been faced with the dilemma of lack of job security, which has led to decreased productivity. Another major change that has affected productivity is American corporations' shift of focus away from making employees feel secure and appreciated, or providing them with ample pension and health care benefits plus wage increases to outpace inflation. The paper points out that, instead, the new focus of American corporations emphasizes the fiduciary responsibility to the stockholder and maximizing profits. The paper also adds that advanced technology, requiring less people but more skilled workers, and government laborpolicies, which removed trade barriers making it easier for American companies to outsource labor and relocate to countries with low labor costs, have had an adverse effect on American worker productivity and the American middle class. The paper concludes that the corporate/business paradigm shift from employee to stockholder is the most significant factor leading to reduced employee productivity and the erosion of the American middle class.
Outline:
Introduction
Hypothesis
Background Research
Conclusion
From the Paper "Lack of job security is not a problem new to 2007, or even 2000, but one that has been on the rise since 1972. American companies have downsized dramatically since the late 1970s.
"In the first downsizing wave, 12% of the out placed workers left the workforce completely, 17% remained unemployed after two years. Of those finding new employment, 31% took a wage reduction of 25% or more and 32% of worker's wages were reduced by one to twenty-five percent while only 37% found no wage loss. These figures translate to 63% of people finding replacement jobs that are inferior to what they held prior to being downsized."
Abstract This paper explains that the downfall of the Soviet Union was, in part, due to the laborpolicies such as the promise of work, the compulsory laborpolicies and the promise of equal pay to many people regardless of their work. The author points out these laborpolicies created an apathetic attitude about productivity and success that led to an inability to stir the nation into growth, which was the cause of the ultimate downfall of the Soviet Union. The paper contends that, as the nation rebuilds, it is important that it allows a policy of free market competitiveness.
From the Paper "The Red Army of Workers simulated what Americans know as "Unions". The difference was that the Red Army of Workers was actually controlled by the government and given freedoms that the government felt were allowable. This again wiped out any hope for motivation or drive and those who belonged simply went through the paces. The government allowed the workers to be given the right to participate in the government structure and to practice religion but later years removed such rights. The laboring masses were then nothing but workhorses who went each day, performed their duties, and did not have anything to wish for or hope for."
Abstract This essay discusses the effects on policy that major news developments may indicate if interpreted correctly. In particular, the effects on policy that the decline in the value of the dollar vis-a-vis the world's other major currencies and how this decline is being manipulated by all relevant parties, is examined. Also, the failure of the FDA to properly monitor the pharmaceutical industry, and the failure of pharmaceutical companies to properly monitor themselves, is examined relative to the greater effect on public health and the overall economy as drug prices increase, is considered.
From the Paper "An article in the New York Times from November, 2004, highlighted the importance of economic policy and how national economic policy affects both U.S. economic health and the global economy. The dollar has been weakening recently relative to other G-7 currencies and this has been causing some degree of consternation to the U.S.'s major trading partners. Fuerbringer mentions in his article that "Only the Japanese are expected to intervene to slow the yen's climb in value and the dollar's fall in an effort to protect the country's export business" (par.2), as a way to point out the effect a weak dollar can have on other countries' economies. Some suspect President Bush and his advisers have chosen to allow the dollar to decline in value as a competitive response to the U.S.'s growing trade deficits."
Abstract There are numerous constraining factors that burden the process of forming an effective environmental policy in Australia. This paper discusses how clashing values and ideas prevent the formulation and implementation of coherent environmental policy in Australia. It looks at how Australia's over-reliance on a resource-based economy, federalist framework and failing policy processes often converge to create conjecture in the environmental arena. The conclusion is a brief summary, which reflects that the conflict and ambiguity plaguing environmental policy in Australia is the direct result of a confusion of ideas.
From the Paper "A quick review of environmental policy in Australia reveals the extent of confusion surrounding the issue, this confusion can be partially attributed to Australia's dependence on and sometimes exploitation of its natural resources to generate revenue (Eckersley, 1996:89). This utilitarian trend began with European settlement and originated from the developmentalist approach to land management (Walker, 1999:24-5). An approach that fails to recognise the value of nature beyond that which is appropriate for development such as mining, logging and other economically productive practices (Aplin, 1998:173). Developmentalism comes at an immense cost to the environment; large portions of Australia's woodlands and forests have already been destroyed in the relentless pursuit of economic growth. "
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes Melvyn Dubofsky's book, "The State and Labor in Modern America". The paper relates that, in the book, Dubofsky details the history of how the state in America has addressed issues involving employers and employees and how the state has shaped laborpolicy. The paper reviews the validity of Dubofsky's analyses and draws conclusions about the book's worth as a historical book.
From the Paper "In the next few years, membership in the AFL declined. The steel strike of 1919 ended in failure, and business showed increasing hostility to labor through the "American Plan," essentially an antiunion, open-shop program that dominated the 1920s. The only substantial victory for labor during this period was the Railway Labor Act of 1926, but even this was only a qualified victory because it was a weak compromise of provisions that had been agreed to by rail labor and management."
"The role of labor would come to the fore once more with the New Deal, a series of regulations passed and agencies created to overcome the problems of the Great Depression. These acts brought the federal government more directly into many areas of American life, and especially into economic relations in an effort to restore confidence and solve some of the problems brought about by widespread unemployment, bank failures, and the like."
Abstract Social movements are collective actions in which the populace is alerted, educated, and mobilized over years and decades to challenge the power holders and the whole society to redress social problems or grievances and restore critical social values. This paper shows that social movements are seeking change in a variety of policy areas, such as the peace movement, nuclear policy, and environmental policy. The paper shows that to fully understand social movements it is important to examine not one their emergence and development of protest, but more importantly, the policy outcomes. There is an interesting dynamic between social dissent and protest and the effects upon policy in the modern American political system. The paper notes that dissatisfaction or disillusion with partisan politics or the American political system altogether creates the atmosphere and the proper social conditions for social movements to occur.
From the Paper "The civil rights movement utilized the ideas of peaceful public protest combined with the new use of television and a variety of other mass media to influence the public opinion. Burstein (1985) has proposed a theory that stresses the crucial role played by social movements and media coverage as external factors that shape the general public's preferences. His study shows that the Civil rights movement and media coverage affected the people's awareness of the issue and this, in turn, led the Congress to act in favor of African American rights. By this we can see that social movements have and impact on public policy but not a direct one. Rather the impact is therefore mediated by the public opinion."
Abstract In this paper, the author examines the modern phenomena of mass production and specifically its development in the United States and the effect on American society. The paper begins with a brief introduction on the accepted interpretation of the idea behind mass production and briefly examines earlier examples of mass production techniques in the 16th century in Venice, Italy. The paper then continues and examines the development of mass production techniques in the US and their influence on the development of the US economy and society. The author of the paper concludes by bringing his own, personnel assessment of the long term effect of mass production on modern US society.
From the Paper "During the American Civil War and afterwards, English engineers began noticing similarities in the way American industries were producing arms and goods. They started to recognize products produced using less skilled workers, interchangeability, and mechanization as the "American system of manufacture" (Delong 1). As the manufacturing of firearms, watches, sewing machines, hay reapers, and other industrial goods began to become more standardized, the production methods began to gain interest from other nations in part due to the paradoxical nature of sales (Hounshell 5 & Delong 1). Products made by major firms exercising the American system of manufacture were at the highest scope of the price range yet they still were the most popular and highly promoted goods on the market (Hounshell 5). Yet the average citizen most likely could still not afford a rifle made by the Springfield Armory and therefore class division was obvious. The goods produced using interchangeable parts were vastly more expensive than a single skilled worker's product; therefore governmental departments were the primary consumers (Mokyr 137). To these means, the system of American manufacture would soon be transformed by a man whose resourceful thinking would lead to the creation of the world's most powerful method of production."
Tags: civil war, ford economy whitney industry competition industry craft output capitalism cheap, consumer society, interchangeable weapons industry factory rural urban
Abstract This paper discusses the inherent flaws found in the American democratic system in regards to the formation of effective environmental policy. It talks about the tragedy of the commons, race to the bottom theory, spillover, and economies of scale. It advocates for the formation of a centralized governmental policy in regards to the environment. This paper supports its argument through the use of examples ranging from the struggle between Maine and the Midwest in regards to acid rain, as well as mentioning several of Nixon's environmental initiatives and what is necessary to make effective environmental policy on the federal level with the current form of American democracy.
From the Paper "The idea of a three branch system of government comes largely in part from the fear of factions. As do the two, four, and six year terms of service assigned to the senate, house, and presidency. These provisions help to keep a system of checks and balances in which no one group can gain too much power. However they do not only stave off factions, but make it hard for the federal government to come together and institute strong cohesive environmental policy. The constitution also dictates that any power not specifically given to the federal government goes to the states which is why the current system of decentralized environmental policy making is in place, however it is time for a change."
Abstract The basis of Smith's theories about the division of labor in human production rests in his repeated reference to "the natural" effects of production. Marx, on the other hand, understands production as a structure that is premised on social inequalities amongst humans. Where Smith regards "self-interest" as the natural force behind increasing a nation's wealth, Marx regards differences in social class as the source of exploitation in labor. Smith idealizes the division of labor, and Marx & Engels both regard exploitation of social inequality as the basis for divisions in labor.
Abstract This paper elaborates a model showing that outsourcing can benefit a country through higher productivity growth and increased employment. Part I discusses the problems regarding the precise definition of outsourcing and presents a case for using the definition adopted in this paper. Part II provides an overview of literature presenting both theoretical and empirical data related to the subject. Part III of this paper creates a model of the economy that engages in outsourcing with all theoretical assumptions and conclusions stemming from it. Part IV bases on this theoretical framework to determine which groups are expected to gain, which groups are expected to lose, and what needs to be done to turn losers into gainers. Part V is a case study of outsourcing from the European Union as a test of the paper's theoretical framework. The paper examines whether the implications of the model hold true in the case of the European Union and sees if the model can explain why certain implications do not hold in real life. Finally, in Part VI the paper gives a brief discussion on economic restructuring policies that are to be adopted in the European Union in order for it to maximize its gains from outsourcing.
From the Paper "Perhaps the main reason for the broadness of the definition of outsourcing is that the concept had changed over time. Up to the early eighties, and dating back to the nineteenth century, outsourcing has been understood as a firm's purchase of intermediate inputs from outside, whether domestically or abroad. Such, the American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "The procuring of services or products ... from an outside supplier ... in order to cut costs." In such a case, a car manufacturing company in the U.S. that purchases car tires from another firm is said to outsource its tire production. However, with the development of foreign trade, economists became to refer more and more often to "an outside supplier" as the one outside the country, speaking of outsourcing as specifically purchasing intermediate inputs from abroad."
Abstract This paper examines the treatment of African and Indian American laborers in Colonial America. The paper reveals that the fate of early modern American laborers was based primarily upon color and race. While class was an important consideration in the treatment of laborers in colonial society, the effect of class was much less important than that of color. The paper examines the effect of these racist practices and how they effected racist policy and thought for generations.
From the Paper "African American slavery was based largely on the idea that white Europeans were inherently superior to all other races. This inherent racism made it easy to justify slavery, and the mistreatment of slaves. Slaves were often treated as less than human, and lived their lives in servitude to their white masters.
"In contrast, white Europeans brought over to the Americas for use as labor were largely retained as indentured servants. Due to the whiteness of their skin, indentured servants were eventually granted freedom (after working off their debt) and faced no enduring social stigma. They often became landowners and leaders within the community (The United States Information Agency)."
Abstract The paper presents an in-depth narrative on the importance of efficient labor cost management and highlights the effects that labor unions have on a business organization. In particular, the paper discusses the fact that unions and lean production programs are there to ensure correct planning of the methods employed to increase efficiency and productivity. The paper also relates that, if these factors are implemented, employers can introduce ideal levels of communication and receive co-operation and assistance from employees.
Outline:
Introduction
Common goals
Common challenges
Common realities
Strategic options and approaches
Conclusions
From the Paper "Sound directives from management lead to responsiveness to company culture and inspire loyalty to the company. When workers feel secure, properly represented and involved in the company, the desire for collective action is not as significant (Dong-One and Voos, 1997). Sound leadership and motivation is able to guide the members of the organization towards the accomplishment of the major goal which is profits, efficiency and effectivity of the company.
"To achieve these, one has to be able to manage labor relations well. So, if workers turn to union organization as a means of communication and solving their concerns, considering the decline in unionization by workers, it may very well mean indeed that leadership and motivation strategies that are being implemented is not effective or enough to develop optimum labor relations."
Abstract This paper discusses how the national labor movement of Japan has traditionally been controlled by the nation's political factions. The writer describes the plight of Japanese workers in modern times, as labor unions that served the needs of management rather than the workers were created. The writer also discusses the rise of a national labor organization called Rengo in the 1990s in response to the control of the employee unions by political factions. However, the political entities within the nation reacted by creating a "union" that sought to end the efforts of the national labor movement and force the maintenance of policies that were intended to continue to oppress the workers of Japan.
From the Paper "According to Oaks "Japanese workers have failed to achieve labor rights that are standard fare throughout the developed world" (para. 4). In the 1980s it was evident that workers in Japan were faced with 46-48 hour days with no benefits, such as sick leave and a social security system for their retirement (Oaks para. 5). Oaks reported that regardless of the fact that the salaries that Japanese workers earned were comparable to workers in the United States, the ability of the Japanese worker to provide for his family was more difficult because of the increased cost of living (para. 6). The labor movement in Japan has continuously fought for worker rights that would address these problems. However, even when the government or political realm agrees to make changes to policy, those changes are generally masked by conditions of change that alleviate the actual policy from making a difference."
Tags: unrest productivity profit, International Labor Organization, law industry
Abstract This paper explains that, given the paramount position of fertility reduction, people in China must use a birth control method unless they have justified reasons; they do have a choice among a specified range of contraceptives. The author points out that contraception falls totally on the woman, the majority practicing family planning or using IUDs, with little demand for contraceptives, particularly among rural families. The paper states that family planning programs are controlled by the Ministry of Health; local councils and other organizations enforce family planning but will not over ride the dictates of the state government. Includes a table contrasting differences between Chinese and the Western culture and values.
Table of Contents
Market Audit and Competitive Analysis
Market Trends
The Market Potential
Penetration of Urban and Rural Markets
Product Uses
Consumer Buying Habits
Product Use Patterns
Product Feature Preferences
Major Problems to Product Acceptance
Distribution (Modes, Channels, Relationship Between Levels, Traditional System)
Regulatory Agencies
Government Treaties
Business Customs and Practices
Currency (Official, Popular Use, Exchange Restrictions)
Payment (Banks, Cash Transfers, Accepted Methods of Payment, Payment Restrictions)
Trade and Industry Organizations
Independent Foreign Policy, With Trade and Relations
Trends
Technology
Current Technology Available
Technological Skills of the Labor Force and General Population
From the Paper "China has changed the parameters of its health care system and is now focused more on patient safety and care. The center for policy and process is the Ministry of Health. In addition the National Institute for Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products plays a key role in enforcing regulations regarding drugs and biotech products.
The emphasis on economic efficiency also redefined the role of the Chinese government in the health care sector. There was a call for modernization and an increasing demand for urban health care services. However, even with modernization, strict controls remain in effect."
