Controversies in International Trade: Offshoring & Outsourcing
Objective:
The key question you are to address in this one-page summary is whether offshoring makes American workers worse-off or not. Does offshoring destroy American jobs? Does it reduce wages?
After today's class discussions and the assigned readings, you should be able to
1) distinguish between offshoring and outsourcing.
2) analyze the impact of offshoring on wages and earnings inequality in the United States.
Readings: Freidman, T. (2007). The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.
Requirement: One-page paper summary of all readings for 10 points. Single-space your summary and use the following layout.
• Introduction: distinguish between offshoring and outsourcing.
• A paragraph on effects of outsourcing on jobs in the U.S. services sector from your general reading on the subject.
• A paragraph on the dual nature of the effects of offshoring on American jobs and wages from the readings in "The World is Flat" (pages 137-151).
• Conclusion.