[central_va]

transportation marketing shipping do not add much value to the product for the customer. They create little wealth just transfer. If a country could becomes prosperous retail, importing and marketing products all made overseas then every third world country would be wealthy.

Actually my list is wrong actually. My list was supposed to be things that CREATE wealth. Marketing, transportation, warehousing and retailing do not create wealth at all, only transfer it. These are "middlemen" processes that are actually adding to cost of the product. A necessary but expensive detriment.

[Alberta's Child]

A car without tires on it is worth no more than the salvage value of its components. Where does the auto manufacturer get the rubber to make the tires?

Almost two-thirds of the rubber in the world is produced in three countries: Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. How much is that rubber worth in those countries, and how much is it worth after it is transported to a production facility?