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To: central_va
You're assuming that wages determines the final price. In the US, about 2/3's of the total cost of production is due to labor costs. True, that faction is much lower in many foreign countries, but the more true measure is the capital stock to output ratio. Third World countries are implementing the latest technology in their production processes while we continue to use plants built in the 1890's. We need to allow business to modernize to improve that capital stock ratio. If they produce X units using $4/hr labor, but we produce 6X using $20/hr labor, we still win the war.

You can fix the problem...you just can't do it with protective trade policies. They only mask the problem. In the US, it calls for tax policies to fix it.

18 posted on 12/16/2016 9:24:08 AM PST by econjack
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To: econjack
we continue to use plants built in the 1890's.

I call BS - name three.

19 posted on 12/16/2016 9:25:39 AM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: econjack
In the US, about 2/3's of the total cost of production is due to labor costs.

That really depends on the industry and the product, doesn't it? I believe labor represents no more than 5% of the cost of producing an iPhone.

24 posted on 12/16/2016 9:37:53 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("Yo, bartender -- Jobu needs a refill!")
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