I have an example of how the prices of goods from around the world have affected me personally. When I was a kid in the '70s and '80s, my mother used to sew my siblings and me clothes. Every Halloween, while the other children got to go to the store to buy masks and plastic-y costumes, my mom insisted on hand-sewing each one of her children a costume. When I became a mom, I decided I would do the same thing. Before my daughter's first Halloween, I headed out to the fabric store, picked out a little devil costume pattern, and bought the materials for the costume. I had to purchase a couple yards of red felt, Velcro, thread, needles, bobbins, stuffing, ribbon, and elastic. I brought the goodies home and got to work at my sewing machine. Nearly 3 labor-intensive weeks and $40 later, I had an adorable little red devil. Shortly after I finished my masterpeice (pictured below) I happened to be in a store and spot a nearly identical costume (I'm sure there were differences in quality) for only $15! I couldn't believe it. I've never made another Halloween costume to this day.
My personal experiences as a consumer in America is that things have changed drastically since I was a kid and it is mostly based on the global economy. Goods can be made cheaper in China and other developing nations. It's that simple. There are obviously positives and negatives to this fact. When my daughter was about 3 years old, there were reports that many toys that were manufactured in China had been painted with lead-based paint. I immediately went online and found a lead-testing kit and sat down one night and tested each and every one of my daughters' toys. Luckily, we weren't affected, but I do know parents who, to this day, will only buy toys made solely in the USA.
Virginia,
ReplyDeleteDespite your $40 and 3 labor-intensive weeks, that picture is PRICELESS!
Your example demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of producing goods in other countries. I think it's somewhat mind-boggling that importing goods from other countries is cheaper than making goods on our own soil, and I would have guessed otherwise.
These interdependent relationships with other countries are important and affect our lives, in small and large ways.
I think your story is one that resonates with many people. How often are we convinced to run out to Walmart or Target and buy something cheaply made in a foreign country even when at the same time we complain that too many things are being outsourced and we should revert to buying more things made in America. Just as our economy depends on being able to sell cheap products in mass quantities, other countries are dependent on the US to buy these products from them. This is all part of the interconnected global economy which, while it has its benefits, can also have its costs such as the problem with the lead found in toys that you mentioned.
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