For Many in U.S., Money Talks Even as Jobs Walk

Recent public debates on outsourcing appear to have borne little fruit or changed consumer behavior in the United States. Eighty bills regulating and restricting outsourcing of American jobs to countries with cheaper labor have been introduced in the U.S Congress and state legislatures. None has passed so far. At the same time, almost half of the Fortune 500 companies have moved at least some part of their operations to less regulated and lower-cost countries around the world. According to this Los Angeles Times article, the apparent indifference to passing legislation restricting outsourcing suggests the economic complexity of the issue: If restrictions on outsourcing are made into law, several American companies might no longer bid for government contracts. This would lead to less competition, higher prices, and lower standards of performance. Outsourcing might take away jobs from American workers, but it also allows corporate America to remain competitive in an increasingly global capitalist economy. – YaleGlobal