Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

> Why is everything made in China?

Because we don't let people migrate to the US in sufficient quantities to equalize the cost of labor. For better or worse, there's a ton of underemployed folks in China who's alternative to manufacturing is subsistence farming.

Since this is, in your own words, a national security problem, I imagine you're in favor of removing the national immigration quotas the US imposes?




In order for that argument to work, the US would also have to lower the minimum wage. Is that what you're proposing?


The strategy would presumably be halve the minimum wage while simultaneously halving the cost of everything else.

Someone one 60% of the US minimum wage in China would theoretically [0][1] have a more comfortable lifestyle than a US minimum wage worker. In all likelihood this is because they can buy stuff extremely cheaply because their manufacturing costs are lower.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomi...


No need to, let enough people immigrate and the cost of wages in China will go up to over the US minimum wage


In your estimation, how many relocated people would be required to push the median Chinese wage over, say, $12?




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: