Americans are crying foul on the way their economic future has been put at risk. American corporations have literary opened a Pandora’s Box, in their quest to reduce the expenses on getting some specific tasks accomplished. This is at the expense of the Americans who, day by day are losing lucrative jobs to foreigners who are experts in the various fields. In the early 2000, the media was flooded with reports on how the US was slowly doing itself an injustice by unleashing some of the best jobs offshore to China, India and China, where the cost of getting the job done was much cheaper. The government’s acknowledgement through Dr. Gregory Mankiw, who used to be President Bush’s Chief Economic Advisor in 2003, raged the storm even further. His assertions that exporting of very high value jobs was productive for the country were unsettling. This essay seeks to explore how Americans are highly disadvantaged by the outsourcing evil that has struck the US like a plague. Moreover, the various options available for the country to redeem itself are further discussed and examined deeply. As peter DeFazio puts it “We are entirely outsourcing United States’ industrial base to China. Economic implications along with national security issues are a concern”.
Outsourcing has become a reality that has posed a dilemma in the USA. Experts indicate that the phenomenon is unstoppable and can never be ignored. More than 14 million white collar jobs are vulnerable of being outsourced. It should be noted that these are high paying jobs with as average salary of $31, 720. By the end of 2005, more than 800,000 jobs had been moved overseas from the US. Various fields have been adversely affected. Notably, any work that can be sent over the wire is likely to be outsourced. Some of the fields include information technology, newspaper reporting, call-center operators, legal services, engineering tasks and accounting. Moreover reports have indicated that more than 2 million jobs in the banking and securities sector are likely to move overseas in thus. There are also more than 700,000 customer
Table of Contents
- Outsourcing in America
- The Outsourcing Phenomenon
- A Growing Problem
- Corporate Adoption
- Government Involvement
- Addressing the Outsourcing Issue
- A Strategic Plan
- Reversing the Trend
- The Importance of American Workers
- Recent Developments and Future Outlook
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay explores the economic and social implications of outsourcing in America. It investigates how outsourcing has negatively impacted American workers and businesses, leading to job losses and a decline in technological innovation. The essay also examines government policies that have facilitated outsourcing and analyzes various strategies for reversing the trend. Key themes include: * **The impact of outsourcing on American workers and businesses:** The essay focuses on how outsourcing has led to job losses, particularly in high-paying sectors like technology, engineering, and customer service. * **The role of government policies in facilitating outsourcing:** The essay discusses how policies like guest-worker programs and trade agreements have contributed to the outsourcing trend. * **Strategies for addressing the outsourcing issue:** The essay explores various solutions, including policy changes, government intervention, and efforts to improve competitiveness and technological innovation. * **The importance of American workers and the middle class:** The essay emphasizes the need to protect and support American workers and the middle class, arguing that they are essential for economic growth and prosperity. * **The ethical implications of outsourcing:** The essay raises questions about the moral implications of outsourcing jobs overseas while millions remain unemployed in America.Chapter Summaries
The first chapter outlines the growing trend of outsourcing in America, highlighting its impact on American workers and businesses. It discusses the significant number of jobs lost to foreign countries due to cost advantages. The chapter explores how outsourcing has affected various sectors, including information technology, call centers, and financial services. The second chapter examines the role of government policies in accelerating outsourcing. It analyzes how policies like guest-worker programs and trade agreements have made it easier for companies to outsource jobs overseas. The chapter also explores how outsourcing has been used to transfer knowledge to foreign countries, potentially creating future competitors for American businesses. The third chapter delves into strategies for addressing the outsourcing problem. It suggests a strategic plan that acknowledges the negative consequences of outsourcing and emphasizes the importance of protecting American workers. The chapter also advocates for policy changes to promote domestic job creation and technological innovation.Keywords
Outsourcing, globalization, job losses, economic impact, American workers, competitiveness, government policies, trade agreements, guest-worker programs, national security, technological innovation, ethical implications.- Quote paper
- Raymond Cook (Author), 2012, Outsourcing in America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215671
