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How much do you think it costs to make a pair of Nike shoes in Asia?

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689 points taubek | 1 comments | 09 Apr 25 12:58 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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Clubber ◴[09 Apr 25 13:38 UTC] No.43631933[source]▶
>The second thing we see is that Asian manufacturing in Asia produces US jobs. You go to Footlocker to buy a pair of $100 shoes because you can afford them. This creates jobs for the Footlocker employees, Nike designers, marketing teams, and other US people throughout this chain.

In all fairness, most of those jobs would still exist if manufacturing was brought onshore. The fact that they were manufactured in Asia makes no difference here, except for perhaps the longshoremen that was included in "other US people."

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ravelantunes ◴[09 Apr 25 13:55 UTC] No.43632163[source]▶
The author’s point is that the lower cost of goods coming from Asia results in increased demand, which then generates more jobs in the post-manufacturing part of the chain.
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xienze ◴[09 Apr 25 14:08 UTC] No.43632322[source]▶
That completely discounts the strategic value of self-sufficiency. I mean, why not outsource ALL manufacturing and agriculture if someone else can do it cheaper? Surely that wouldn't come back to bite us, right?
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1. ElevenLathe ◴[09 Apr 25 14:25 UTC] No.43632526{3}[source]▶
Yes, the goal is for everyone to be doing the thing they can do most cheaply and then trading with everyone else. Karl Marx and Ludwig von Mises would agree on this point. The idea that the Westphalian state should get in the middle of this is the aberation. The only reason national security is a consideration is because of the nations. I don't care if my shoes are made in Asia, though I suspect they wouldn't be if we paid Asian shoemakers an honest, globally-clearing wage.