The effects of the pandemic on globalization

[George.]

Multinationals have learned two things:

1) International trade continues through it all (and screw the crewmen on the ships that make it possible);

2) Supply chains in Asian countries are least disrupted, because their societies are able to mobilize effectively against a crisis, while Western societies fracture and flail helplessly.

Guess where the new jobs are going to be?

[Paul Pless]

nailed it

[Stiletto]

We've got ships Queued up at our ports because so much is coming in by sea that formerly came in the holds of passenger aircraft.

[__floater__]

Globalization is a good thing...not a bad.

[Hugh Conway]

3) governments of all flavors will always bail out and look after the biggest corps, so get bigger.

[John Smith]

The pursuit of profit is a force that cannot be stopped.

American labor faces multiple problems. One is automation. Older folks here will remember elevator operators.

Products need to be competitive. Products made here are not competitive, in large part because of our employer based healthcare system.

Those ships deliver goods into harbors that are maintained by our taxes; part of our infrastructure.

[George.]

Globalization is a good thing...not a bad.

Of course, but many people still hate it.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

We've got ships Queued up at our ports because so much is coming in by sea that formerly came in the holds of passenger aircraft.

I think that the queuing up of ships has more to do with restocking after a run down in the earlier parts of this year.

[dutchpp]

The pursuit of profit is a force that cannot be stopped.

American labor faces multiple problems. One is automation. Older folks here will remember elevator operators.

Products need to be competitive. Products made here are not competitive, in large part because of our employer based healthcare system.

Those ships deliver goods into harbors that are maintained by our taxes; part of our infrastructure.

Could you please explain why in your opinion the US productivity is predominantly negatively influenced by its healthcare system ? ( no trolling, it's a serious question)
Over here in Europe we tend to think that there are other reasons for the deteriorating productivity of the US.

[AndyG]

Globalization is a good thing...not a bad.

Yeah? CO2 emissions from sea freight. Don't get me wrong, globalisation is good. An interconnected world is one less likely to bomb itself to death. But things have to change.

Andy

[skuthorp]

Well the globalisation of tourism is not likely to recover quickly.
But Aus's economy, given the extremely low and controlled level of the virus here, seems to be recovering very quickly…..an effective vaccine being available of course.

[Too Little Time]

Globalization is a good thing...not a bad.

That depends so much on where one sits in the economy. And on the time frame one considers.

Items produced in other countries are almost certainly cheaper than those produced by my neighbors. That helps me as a consumer. That hurts my neighbors as workers.

As time continues to run, I expect that I and others will find that there are advantages to having their neighbors be helped not hurt.

[skuthorp]

That seems to be the way things are going in Aus, especiaslly now we have a combative relationship with China which is using import and export restrictions to attempt to force us y 'bend the knee' in the way we have up to now to the US, and before that Britain.
I miss Peter, we had been talking of this day for some years.

[bluedog225]

Yeah? CO2 emissions from sea freight. Don't get me wrong, globalisation is good. An interconnected world is one less likely to bomb itself to death. But things have to change.

Andy

This. It’s surprising to me that we still import as much food as we do from china. I have a hard time believing we can’t grow pumpkin seeds in the us....And the trend of making it hard to find out where something was grown.

[mmd]

I have a hard time believing we can’t grow pumpkin seeds in the us....

It is not that you can't, it is the price of doing so. How much per ton would it cost to produce them in the US vs. how much in China. Labour costs is what is killing you.

[Hugh Conway]

China grows 7x the tonnage in Pumpkins vs the US and consumes mostly the flesh. Seems rather smart to sell the seeds that they don’t want to a market that does (the US). Other than Halloween (decorative) and the ubiquitous pie at Thanksgiving the US doesn’t want pumpkins.

much like the us exporting chicken feet.

[bluedog225]

Smart to sell. Not so smart to eat. History shows they don’t give a flip about poisoning people (or pets).

FF459FBB-10C5-4C8D-BDDB-21B989A399BC.jpg

https://e360.yale.edu/features/the_s...ting_challenge

[Hugh Conway]

History shows the US doesn’t give a flip either. Anyone who supports Republicans and pretends to care about pollution or food safety is an idiot.

[George.]

Items produced in other countries are almost certainly cheaper than those produced by my neighbors. That helps me as a consumer. That hurts my neighbors as workers.

As time continues to run, I expect that I and others will find that there are advantages to having their neighbors be helped not hurt.

The people in other countries are also our neighbors.

[Too Little Time]

The people in other countries are also our neighbors.

That is a good attitude to have. But it misses the point. And tortures the definition.

[George.]

That is a good attitude to have. But it misses the point. And tortures the definition.

How does it miss the point?

[AndyG]

Yeah, what George. said, TLT.

Andy

[Too Little Time]

How does it miss the point?

My comment was to the following statement

Globalization is a good thing...not a bad.

I gave an example why many should properly think that statement is false.

You missed that point.

[George.]

Sure. Globalization is bad because you care about the naked apes that live near you more than about the ones that live far away.

[AndyG]

Cruel. ...But fair, George.

One planet, TLT. We all share responsibility for keeping it going.

Andy

[Too Little Time]

Sure. Globalization is bad because you care about the naked apes that live near you more than about the ones that live far away.

Again you miss the point. (I have yet to see a naked ape outside of my house, but I will continue to look for one.)

You inferences are invalid. I have never indicated any comparison between those who live near me and those who do not. I have made simple statements about those who do live near me. The inferences you make are more influenced by your preconceptions and biases than by my comments.

I am of the opinion that globalization has become a race to the bottom as far as cost - labor, is concerned. In that sense those that live far away are also hurt. I would rather that those who live far from me be helped and not hurt. I am sure you will make some claim that those who live far from me are helped by globalization.

[WX]

Having critical items manufactured overseas is all very fine till the transport system and or manufacturing grinds to a halt.

[George.]

I am of the opinion that globalization has become a race to the bottom as far as cost - labor, is concerned. In that sense those that live far away are also hurt.

No, those who live far away are getting well-paying jobs for the first time in history. They are also getting to buy the stuff they make for the first time, and even the stuff you make. Figure out some stuff to make.

[Too Little Time]

No, those who live far away are getting well-paying jobs for the first time in history.

I can sell that that story. But I would not buy it.

I am a race to the bottom believer. Jobs will go to where others will work for less.

[George.]

The rich countries had a good go, improving wages and living standards for their people while they imported cheap raw materials from poor countries and sold them back expensive stuff.

Now it is working both ways.