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Walter Williams lost me as a fan when he posted this article in August, citing 1996 statistics to support his claim that there must be reasons companies preferred to go to high-wage companies rather than low-wage companies. What's enabling jobs to go to low-wage companies since then is the internet and improved technology and communication, but Walter doesn't address this for some reason and doesn't try to use current numbers even though I'm sure they're available, I wonder why not?

He lost any credibility with me when he cited 7 year old figures to support his case and I would be highly suspect of his numbers in any article at this point.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/walterwilliams/ww20030820.shtml

"Let's turn to the next part of the exporting jobs nonsense namely that corporations are driven solely by the prospect of low wages. Let's begin with a question: Is the bulk of U.S. corporation overseas investment, and hence employment of foreigners, in high-wage countries, or is it in low-wage countries?

The statistics for 1996 are: Out of total direct U.S. overseas investment of $796 billion, nearly $400 billion was made in Europe (England received 18 percent of it), next was Canada ($91 billion), then Asia ($140 billion), Middle East ($9 billion) and Africa ($7.6 billion). Foreign employment by U.S. corporations exhibited a similar pattern, with most workers hired in high-wage countries such as England, Germany and the Netherlands. Far fewer workers were hired in low-wage countries such as Thailand, Colombia and Philippines, the exception being Mexico.

The facts give a different story from the one we hear from the left-wing and right-wing anti-free trade movement. These demagogues would have us believe that U.S. corporations are rushing to exploit the cheap labor in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Surely with average wages in these countries as low as $10 per month, it would be a darn sight cheaper than locating in England, Germany and Canada, where average wages respectively are: $12, $17 and $16 an hour. "

GREAT FIND!!!

Well, that was 1996, and this is now.

FDI in China has increased substantially since 1996, and continues to do so every year.

Further, China has MFN status--not enjoyed by the countries in Africa which you mention.

MFN was granted by Clinton, abetted by Newtie, another college prof, btw.