An article on Sara Bongiorni with Chinese perspectives: A US family's adventure in one-year made-in-China ban.
It has an interesting example on high-end products: Apple's iPod.
Apple outsources the entire manufacturing of the iPod to a number of Asian enterprises.
Three researchers at the University of California recently made a thorough analysis of the cost and profit of all the parts that went into the iPod, and found that out of $299 the retail price of iPod, $163 was captured by American companies and workers, according to a report by New York Times late in June.
While China makes most of the Toshiba hard drives, which are the most expensive component in iPod, and it only does the final assembly.
Chinese workers contribute only $4, about one percent of the cost of the iPod. However, the Chinese export of an iPod to United States directly contributes about $150 to U.S. trade deficit with the Chinese.
More
Economist Joel L. Naroff reminds readers that the "Made in Japan" label caused similar anxieties and introspection in the 1950s, adding, "almost everyone's standard of living is improved by being able to purchase less expensive products no matter where they are made."
Now it's China's turn. And for families whose income has been stagnant for the past 20 years, reaching for the "Made in China" label is simply a reality for getting by.
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Chinese reporting of Sara Bongiorni experiment
生活麻煩代價更高 拒絕中國貨一年 美作家認輸
朱建陵/綜合報導
三年前的耶誕節後兩天，美國專欄作家邦喬妮（Sara Bongiorni）望著家中節日後的滿地狼籍時，忽然發現中國占領了她的家，包含電視、網球鞋、耶誕樹彩燈、地板上的洋娃娃等，屋裡隨處可見「中國製造」（made in China），於是決定展開全家「沒有『中國製造』的一年」計畫。這項計畫的執行過程日前成書，並預計在本月正式發行。
在《沒有『中國製造』的一年》書中，邦喬妮描述她及家人在拒絕中國商品一年中的體驗，發現以前一些再簡單不過的事，例如買雙新鞋、買件生日玩具或修理傢俱，在沒有了中國之後，都變成一種痛苦折磨。
中國產品已深入生活各層面
邦喬妮說，她並非貿易保護主義者，而除了偶或擔心美國國內工作機會流失之外，她並不反對中國。她的目標其實很簡單，只是想讓美國人了解，一個一般美國人的生活是如何地與國際貿易體系產生聯繫。
在美國路易斯安那州巴頓魯吉擔任財經記者的邦喬妮，過去十年一直撰寫有關國際貿易的稿件。她說：「我曾看過美國商務部的統計資料」，「我曾認為這些都和我無關」，但事實卻不是這樣。
在一開始抵制中國商品時，邦喬妮書中寫說：「抵制讓我重新思考中國和我之間的距離，在把中國推出我的生活之外後，我得到一個中國已經深深介入我們生活的有趣觀點。」
美國經濟學家納羅夫在邦喬妮書中作序指出，美國去年進口的一兆七千萬美元商品中，約一五％來自中國，其中多數是沃爾瑪或其他零售商的架上商品，都是一些中低階層美國人生活的必需和非必需商品。
廉價又方便 消費者難抗拒
目前擔任《基督教科學箴言報》自由撰稿人的邦喬妮說，較低的價格一直讓北京受益，並促成中國經濟上的崛起，也讓美國消費者很難放棄中國商品。
在抵制階段中，為了替兒子買一雙非中國製造的鞋子，她傷透了腦筋，既要看各種型錄，又要仔細閱讀標籤，研究各種款式。最終發現，當地專門出售歐洲品牌的專賣店都已經歇業。為此，她不得不用六十八美元替兒子買一雙義大利製造的運動鞋。
據指出，中國大陸商品的價格，大概只是美國同類商品價格的三分之一，而這些廉價商品的品質也在可以接受的範圍之內。
家裡的電器壞了，最終只能讓它壞在那裡，因為零件都是中國製造。邦喬妮得到了一個教訓，很多標榜「美國製造」的商品，零件其實都來自中國。此外，在抵制中國商品之後，她四歲的兒子不得不每次都選擇丹麥產的樂高（Legos）當成送給同學的生日禮物，因為他已經找不到其他適合的非中國製造玩具。
此前，邦喬妮原本擔心美國就業機會流失，以及一些關於中國大陸人權狀況的報導，這讓她下定決心抵制中國商品，但一年的實驗之後，她得出結論：美國人民根本拒絕不了中國商品。邦喬妮在書籍的結論中指出，沒有中國你也可以活下去，但生活會越來越麻煩，而且代價會越來越高。
她說：「以後十年我可能都沒有勇氣再嘗試這種日子。」
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
拒绝中国货一年 美作家认输
三年前的圣诞节后两天，美国专栏作家邦乔妮（Sara Bongiorni）望着家中节日后的满地狼籍时，忽然发现中国占领了她的家，包含电视、网球鞋、耶诞树彩灯、地板上的洋娃娃等，屋里随处可见「中国制造」（made in China），于是决定展开全家「没有『中国制造』的一年」计划。
这项计划的执行过程日前成书，并预计在本月正式发行。在《没有『中国制造』的一年》书中，邦乔妮描述她及家人在拒绝中国商品一年中的体验，发现以前一些再简单不过的事，例如买双新鞋、买件生日玩具或修理家具，在没有了中国之后，都变成一种痛苦折磨。
邦乔妮说，她并非贸易保护主义者，而除了偶或担心美国国内工作机会流失之外，她并不反对中国。她的目标其实很简单，只是想让美国人了解，一个一般美国人的生活是如何地与国际贸易体系产生联系。
在美国路易斯安那州巴顿鲁吉担任财经记者的邦乔妮，过去十年一直撰写有关国际贸易的稿件。她说：「我曾看过美国商务部的统计资料」，「我曾认为这些都和我无关」，但事实却不是这样。
在一开始抵制中国商品时，邦乔妮书中写说：「抵制让我重新思考中国和我之间的距离，在把中国推出我的生活之外后，我得到一个中国已经深深介入我们生活的有趣观点。」
美国经济学家纳罗夫在邦乔妮书中作序指出，美国去年进口的一兆七千万美元商品中，约一五％来自中国，其中多数是沃尔玛或其它零售商的架上商品，都是一些中低阶层美国人生活的必需和非必需商品。
目前担任《基督教科学箴言报》自由撰稿人的邦乔妮说，较低的价格一直让北京受益，并促成中国经济上的崛起，也让美国消费者很难放弃中国商品。
在抵制阶段中，为了替儿子买一双非中国制造的鞋子，她伤透了脑筋，既要看各种型录，又要仔细阅读标签，研究各种款式。最终发现，当地专门出售欧洲品牌的专卖店都已经歇业。为此，她不得不用六十八美元替儿子买一双意大利制造的运动鞋。
据指出，中国大陆商品的价格，大概只是美国同类商品价格的三分之一，而这些廉价商品的品质也在可以接受的范围之内。
家里的电器坏了，最终只能让它坏在那里，因为零件都是中国制造。邦乔妮得到了一个教训，很多标榜「美国制造」的商品，零件其实都来自中国。此外，在抵制中国商品之后，她四岁的儿子不得不每次都选择丹麦产的乐高当成送给同学的生日礼物，因为他已经找不到其它适合的非中国制造玩具。
此前，邦乔妮原本担心美国就业机会流失，以及一些关于中国大陆人权状况的报导，这让她下定决心抵制中国商品，但一年的实验之后，她得出结论：美国人民根本拒绝不了中国商品。邦乔妮在书籍的结论中指出，没有中国你也可以活下去，但生活会越来越麻烦，而且代价会越来越高。
她说：「以后十年我可能都没有勇气再尝试这种日子。」
朱建陵/綜合報導
三年前的耶誕節後兩天，美國專欄作家邦喬妮（Sara Bongiorni）望著家中節日後的滿地狼籍時，忽然發現中國占領了她的家，包含電視、網球鞋、耶誕樹彩燈、地板上的洋娃娃等，屋裡隨處可見「中國製造」（made in China），於是決定展開全家「沒有『中國製造』的一年」計畫。這項計畫的執行過程日前成書，並預計在本月正式發行。
在《沒有『中國製造』的一年》書中，邦喬妮描述她及家人在拒絕中國商品一年中的體驗，發現以前一些再簡單不過的事，例如買雙新鞋、買件生日玩具或修理傢俱，在沒有了中國之後，都變成一種痛苦折磨。
中國產品已深入生活各層面
邦喬妮說，她並非貿易保護主義者，而除了偶或擔心美國國內工作機會流失之外，她並不反對中國。她的目標其實很簡單，只是想讓美國人了解，一個一般美國人的生活是如何地與國際貿易體系產生聯繫。
在美國路易斯安那州巴頓魯吉擔任財經記者的邦喬妮，過去十年一直撰寫有關國際貿易的稿件。她說：「我曾看過美國商務部的統計資料」，「我曾認為這些都和我無關」，但事實卻不是這樣。
在一開始抵制中國商品時，邦喬妮書中寫說：「抵制讓我重新思考中國和我之間的距離，在把中國推出我的生活之外後，我得到一個中國已經深深介入我們生活的有趣觀點。」
美國經濟學家納羅夫在邦喬妮書中作序指出，美國去年進口的一兆七千萬美元商品中，約一五％來自中國，其中多數是沃爾瑪或其他零售商的架上商品，都是一些中低階層美國人生活的必需和非必需商品。
廉價又方便 消費者難抗拒
目前擔任《基督教科學箴言報》自由撰稿人的邦喬妮說，較低的價格一直讓北京受益，並促成中國經濟上的崛起，也讓美國消費者很難放棄中國商品。
在抵制階段中，為了替兒子買一雙非中國製造的鞋子，她傷透了腦筋，既要看各種型錄，又要仔細閱讀標籤，研究各種款式。最終發現，當地專門出售歐洲品牌的專賣店都已經歇業。為此，她不得不用六十八美元替兒子買一雙義大利製造的運動鞋。
據指出，中國大陸商品的價格，大概只是美國同類商品價格的三分之一，而這些廉價商品的品質也在可以接受的範圍之內。
家裡的電器壞了，最終只能讓它壞在那裡，因為零件都是中國製造。邦喬妮得到了一個教訓，很多標榜「美國製造」的商品，零件其實都來自中國。此外，在抵制中國商品之後，她四歲的兒子不得不每次都選擇丹麥產的樂高（Legos）當成送給同學的生日禮物，因為他已經找不到其他適合的非中國製造玩具。
此前，邦喬妮原本擔心美國就業機會流失，以及一些關於中國大陸人權狀況的報導，這讓她下定決心抵制中國商品，但一年的實驗之後，她得出結論：美國人民根本拒絕不了中國商品。邦喬妮在書籍的結論中指出，沒有中國你也可以活下去，但生活會越來越麻煩，而且代價會越來越高。
她說：「以後十年我可能都沒有勇氣再嘗試這種日子。」
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
拒绝中国货一年 美作家认输
三年前的圣诞节后两天，美国专栏作家邦乔妮（Sara Bongiorni）望着家中节日后的满地狼籍时，忽然发现中国占领了她的家，包含电视、网球鞋、耶诞树彩灯、地板上的洋娃娃等，屋里随处可见「中国制造」（made in China），于是决定展开全家「没有『中国制造』的一年」计划。
这项计划的执行过程日前成书，并预计在本月正式发行。在《没有『中国制造』的一年》书中，邦乔妮描述她及家人在拒绝中国商品一年中的体验，发现以前一些再简单不过的事，例如买双新鞋、买件生日玩具或修理家具，在没有了中国之后，都变成一种痛苦折磨。
邦乔妮说，她并非贸易保护主义者，而除了偶或担心美国国内工作机会流失之外，她并不反对中国。她的目标其实很简单，只是想让美国人了解，一个一般美国人的生活是如何地与国际贸易体系产生联系。
在美国路易斯安那州巴顿鲁吉担任财经记者的邦乔妮，过去十年一直撰写有关国际贸易的稿件。她说：「我曾看过美国商务部的统计资料」，「我曾认为这些都和我无关」，但事实却不是这样。
在一开始抵制中国商品时，邦乔妮书中写说：「抵制让我重新思考中国和我之间的距离，在把中国推出我的生活之外后，我得到一个中国已经深深介入我们生活的有趣观点。」
美国经济学家纳罗夫在邦乔妮书中作序指出，美国去年进口的一兆七千万美元商品中，约一五％来自中国，其中多数是沃尔玛或其它零售商的架上商品，都是一些中低阶层美国人生活的必需和非必需商品。
目前担任《基督教科学箴言报》自由撰稿人的邦乔妮说，较低的价格一直让北京受益，并促成中国经济上的崛起，也让美国消费者很难放弃中国商品。
在抵制阶段中，为了替儿子买一双非中国制造的鞋子，她伤透了脑筋，既要看各种型录，又要仔细阅读标签，研究各种款式。最终发现，当地专门出售欧洲品牌的专卖店都已经歇业。为此，她不得不用六十八美元替儿子买一双意大利制造的运动鞋。
据指出，中国大陆商品的价格，大概只是美国同类商品价格的三分之一，而这些廉价商品的品质也在可以接受的范围之内。
家里的电器坏了，最终只能让它坏在那里，因为零件都是中国制造。邦乔妮得到了一个教训，很多标榜「美国制造」的商品，零件其实都来自中国。此外，在抵制中国商品之后，她四岁的儿子不得不每次都选择丹麦产的乐高当成送给同学的生日礼物，因为他已经找不到其它适合的非中国制造玩具。
此前，邦乔妮原本担心美国就业机会流失，以及一些关于中国大陆人权状况的报导，这让她下定决心抵制中国商品，但一年的实验之后，她得出结论：美国人民根本拒绝不了中国商品。邦乔妮在书籍的结论中指出，没有中国你也可以活下去，但生活会越来越麻烦，而且代价会越来越高。
她说：「以后十年我可能都没有勇气再尝试这种日子。」
No escaping from Chinese porducts
By Low Ching Ling July 15, 2007
For five days last week, I barred China and China-made products from my life. It was an experiment to see how pervasive the products of the world's factory have become in our lives.
TAKING OVER
American journalist Sara Bongiorni embarked on a boycott for a whole year in 2005 because she was sick of China 'taking over' her home.
Though she succeeded, life without anything 'Made in China' became an ordeal for her and her family as they struggled to find cheaper, and sometimes, better alternatives to China-made products.
My experiment was sparked by the current product-safety crisis in China, and Singapore's hopes of a Free Trade Agreement with Beijing.
For years, the factory of the world has helped consumers like you and me stretch our dollars by churning out cheap goods.
But is it possible to live without the world's fourth-biggest economy?
Most of the time, my China embargo succeeded. But it made my life difficult.
Almost as soon as I woke up, China was in my face - literally. I spent five minutes rummaging through my drawers for a face towel of non-Chinese origin. Another five minutes for the bath towel.
When I suggested to my mother that she should shop for new towels, she groused: 'All the neighbourhood shops sell towels from China.'
I peeped under the standing fan and the words 'Made in PRC' stared right back at me.
I left my beloved iPod (assembled in China) at home and broke the monotony of my daily train journey by eavesdropping on my fellow commuters' conversations.
I gave the China-made Panasonic phone at home the cold shoulder, even when it was ringing off the hook.
I was ecstatic my TV and DVD player were made in Korea, but moaned when I saw the three tiny words at the back of the remote controls.
I boycotted my mother's cooking because she insisted on using the made-in-China Maggi soya sauce.
One hawker gave me a dirty look when I asked where his ingredients were from.
I vetoed a colleague's suggestion to go to a restaurant serving food from Putian (a city in Fujian province). I thought it might be rude to ask the waitresses from China if they use ingredients from their homeland.
I gave up shopping. I knew the pair of shoes I had been eyeing and the camera memory card I wanted to buy were born in China factories.
Almost every corner I turned, China lurked - under my shoes, on my lip balm, at the back of my notebook.
I tried my best to avoid anything off the assembly belt from the Asian giant - but still got unwittingly snared.
I found out that the longans and chicken rice sauce were imported from China - after I had eaten them.
Some things I couldn't help.
Like charging my Taiwan-made handphone with the China-made charger.
Or working on my Made-in-China Hewlett-Packard office laptop on which I wrote this article. (I thought it was a good excuse to boycott work for five days but my boss, known for his sardonic wit, complimented me on my sense of humour).
After five days, I threw in the towel. I simply missed China too much.
I missed my iPod. I missed being a channel-surfing couch potato. I missed my mother's cooking.
Sure, it's possible to shut the door on China if you try really, really hard - and if you don't mind burning a hole in your pocket to buy costlier things made elsewhere, or if you enjoy making life difficult for yourself.
Maybe I won't eat seafood from China or buy China-made toothpaste, but that's as far as I'd go to keep China out of my life.
I have never been to mainland China (Hong Kong was as close as I got).
But during my very brief experiment, I discovered that China has been in my life for a long time now, and will be, inextricably and possibly, forever.
The reality is China, as a growing economic and political power, cannot be avoided in a globalised economy.
But that does not give it the right to give the world shoddy products.
THE ANSWER?
The answer, however, is not protectionism.
Mr Suan Teck Kin, a regional economist at United Overseas Bank, said: 'Most of the big American companies have a presence in China. They make their products there and sell them to other parts of the world, including the US.
'Protectionist moves will only hurt its own consumers, who are also the voters, and they will then have to pay higher prices for goods.
'Sure, you can ban China products. But where do you find replacements? In such a globalised economy, how do you find alternatives to satisfy your consumers?
What the Chinese need to do is show the rest of the world it is serious in tackling its product-safety crisis.
Authorities say efforts are already under way with an overhaul of food-safety regulations and revamp of its top drug regulator.
And in its strongest signal yet, it executed the former head of its food and drug watchdog on Tuesday for accepting bribes to approve untested medicine.
Yes, buyers beware.
But until we're willing to give up our iPods, cheap shoes and remote controls, China will always be indispensable to our lives.
For five days last week, I barred China and China-made products from my life. It was an experiment to see how pervasive the products of the world's factory have become in our lives.
TAKING OVER
American journalist Sara Bongiorni embarked on a boycott for a whole year in 2005 because she was sick of China 'taking over' her home.
Though she succeeded, life without anything 'Made in China' became an ordeal for her and her family as they struggled to find cheaper, and sometimes, better alternatives to China-made products.
My experiment was sparked by the current product-safety crisis in China, and Singapore's hopes of a Free Trade Agreement with Beijing.
For years, the factory of the world has helped consumers like you and me stretch our dollars by churning out cheap goods.
But is it possible to live without the world's fourth-biggest economy?
Most of the time, my China embargo succeeded. But it made my life difficult.
Almost as soon as I woke up, China was in my face - literally. I spent five minutes rummaging through my drawers for a face towel of non-Chinese origin. Another five minutes for the bath towel.
When I suggested to my mother that she should shop for new towels, she groused: 'All the neighbourhood shops sell towels from China.'
I peeped under the standing fan and the words 'Made in PRC' stared right back at me.
I left my beloved iPod (assembled in China) at home and broke the monotony of my daily train journey by eavesdropping on my fellow commuters' conversations.
I gave the China-made Panasonic phone at home the cold shoulder, even when it was ringing off the hook.
I was ecstatic my TV and DVD player were made in Korea, but moaned when I saw the three tiny words at the back of the remote controls.
I boycotted my mother's cooking because she insisted on using the made-in-China Maggi soya sauce.
One hawker gave me a dirty look when I asked where his ingredients were from.
I vetoed a colleague's suggestion to go to a restaurant serving food from Putian (a city in Fujian province). I thought it might be rude to ask the waitresses from China if they use ingredients from their homeland.
I gave up shopping. I knew the pair of shoes I had been eyeing and the camera memory card I wanted to buy were born in China factories.
Almost every corner I turned, China lurked - under my shoes, on my lip balm, at the back of my notebook.
I tried my best to avoid anything off the assembly belt from the Asian giant - but still got unwittingly snared.
I found out that the longans and chicken rice sauce were imported from China - after I had eaten them.
Some things I couldn't help.
Like charging my Taiwan-made handphone with the China-made charger.
Or working on my Made-in-China Hewlett-Packard office laptop on which I wrote this article. (I thought it was a good excuse to boycott work for five days but my boss, known for his sardonic wit, complimented me on my sense of humour).
After five days, I threw in the towel. I simply missed China too much.
I missed my iPod. I missed being a channel-surfing couch potato. I missed my mother's cooking.
Sure, it's possible to shut the door on China if you try really, really hard - and if you don't mind burning a hole in your pocket to buy costlier things made elsewhere, or if you enjoy making life difficult for yourself.
Maybe I won't eat seafood from China or buy China-made toothpaste, but that's as far as I'd go to keep China out of my life.
I have never been to mainland China (Hong Kong was as close as I got).
But during my very brief experiment, I discovered that China has been in my life for a long time now, and will be, inextricably and possibly, forever.
The reality is China, as a growing economic and political power, cannot be avoided in a globalised economy.
But that does not give it the right to give the world shoddy products.
THE ANSWER?
The answer, however, is not protectionism.
Mr Suan Teck Kin, a regional economist at United Overseas Bank, said: 'Most of the big American companies have a presence in China. They make their products there and sell them to other parts of the world, including the US.
'Protectionist moves will only hurt its own consumers, who are also the voters, and they will then have to pay higher prices for goods.
'Sure, you can ban China products. But where do you find replacements? In such a globalised economy, how do you find alternatives to satisfy your consumers?
What the Chinese need to do is show the rest of the world it is serious in tackling its product-safety crisis.
Authorities say efforts are already under way with an overhaul of food-safety regulations and revamp of its top drug regulator.
And in its strongest signal yet, it executed the former head of its food and drug watchdog on Tuesday for accepting bribes to approve untested medicine.
Yes, buyers beware.
But until we're willing to give up our iPods, cheap shoes and remote controls, China will always be indispensable to our lives.
The poverty business
A cover story of BusinessWeek magazine - The Poverty Business by Brian Grow & Keith Epstein - detailed how U.S. companies are extracting profits from the nation's working poor who lack financial senses.
However, all of us, not just the working poor, would benefit from a little bit of financial education.
There are many websites on the personal finance, and some are from the government.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
A year without Chinese products
Source: Seven Questions: One Year. One Family. No Chinese Products. Interview of Sara Bongiorni, author of A Year Without "Made in China"Key messages:
The downside of trading with China is lost of U.S. manufacturing jobs.
The benefit is the greater access to good-quality, low-cost goods.
For someone on a moderate or low income, to be able to buy your 4-year-old kid good and quality shoes for $15 (instead of $68) is a real economic benefit.
Ordinary consumers living without Chinese products would be exhausting and expensive.
Is it possible to go for a whole year without buying any products made in China? One woman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, wanted to find out. FP spoke with author Sara Bongiorni about her new book, the hidden role China plays in our everyday lives, and what it's like to be a mother of two without a coffee maker.
FOREIGN POLICY: So first, tell us about your book, A Year Without "Made in China". What motivated you to write it?
Sara Bongiorni: I used to be a business reporter, and I would see this trade data coming from the U.S. Commerce Department each month. You see billions and billions of dollars worth coming in, and you can't really make sense of it. It's just so huge, and I felt very disconnected from that information.
So then this impromptu idea just popped into my head. It was two days after Christmas at the end of 2004, and my husband and I were in the living room. There were still holiday presents and toys just strewn across the floor. I started going through them a little bit, and I realized that most of our Christmas gifts came from China. And as I looked around the house, I thought, "Well gosh, most of the other stuff's from China, too!"
I wanted to see if it was possible for us to avoid buying anything made in China for a year.
So, I turned to my husband and said, "Hey, do you want to try this?" And he was like, "Absolutely not. That's a terrible idea." I twisted his arm, tried to make it sound fun, and convinced him that we should try this as a kind of experiment. So, on January 1, 2005, we kicked off this year-long-I use the word-"boycott," but it's not a political book; it's not a China-bashing book or a protectionist book. It's very much a personal story, an attempt to understand our family's connections to the global economy.
FP: Was it difficult to find out what was made in China?
SB: It was very difficult! And what I found was that there's just really no way to live what would be considered an ordinary consumer life without a heavy reliance on merchandise from China. It really upended our lives.
FP: Why is that?
SB: Well, China's the main source of ordinary consumer goods-everything from consumer electronics to toys to household gadgets or appliances of every kind, tools, shoes, and increasingly, furniture and clothing. A lot of people think that China makes only shoddy and cheap things, but I found that not to be true. There are a lot of increasingly high-end products coming from there. I saw everything from Barbie-shaped chocolates to wedding dresses from China. It was an eye-popping view of just how much we rely on China for the daily products we use.
FP: Was there anything that you had to go without completely?
SB: Absolutely. Our coffee maker broke, and we didn't replace it because those are all from China. So we ended up boiling water in a pot and pouring it in filters over a coffee mug for the year. It was like camping every day! Our blender broke, and we couldn't repair it because the blade was made in China. My husband is a woodworker, and he couldn't buy a lot of tools because they were made in China. And most toys sold in the United States are made in China.
FP: So what did your kids think of all this?
SB: They didn't think much! They were little, so in some ways it was easier to do this. Our son was only 4, and our daughter turned 2 during the course of the year. We read I don't know how many thousands of labels on all sorts of products during the year and searched out the small number of toys not made in China at ordinary places like Toys 'R Us and Target and found a small number of toys from countries like Taiwan and Thailand. So we found those, and then we spent a lot of money on Legos, which are mostly made in Europe and some in the United States. Some are made in China, though, so you have to look at the individual box. Toward the end of the year, our son was complaining that he was so sick of our Lego purchases because that was one of the few ordinary toys that were still readily available to us.
FP: What surprised you the most about this project?
SB: People know about the downside of trade with China-they think about lost U.S. manufacturing jobs, and of course that's a painful issue for a lot of people-but one of the things I also got to understand in a personal way was the benefit of access to often good-quality, low-cost goods.
Our son outgrew his tennis shoes, and they were the only pair of shoes he had. So I set out to buy new tennis shoes, and essentially all tennis shoes are made in China at this point. It took me a couple of weeks, but I finally located these tennis shoes made in Italy that cost $68. Well, you can by tennis shoes made in China for $15 in a place like Payless shoe stores.
For someone on a moderate or low income, to be able to buy your 4-year-old kid perfectly good shoes for $15 is a real economic benefit. I didn't realize I was going to see that at the outset.
FP: What are you going to do next? Are you buying products from China now?
SB: There was no way to function as an "ordinary consumer" without being willing to buy some Chinese products.
For instance, if your phone broke, that would mean you'd have to live without a telephone. So at the end of the book, I talk about how we found a middle ground because the idea of living permanently like this would be exhausting and expensive. It was not a way that a lot of people would want to live permanently.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Climbing the economic ladder
Source: Middle class crunch: Who's to blame? By Liz Pulliam Weston of msn.com
My comment:
This article is actually advising people how not to fallen off the middle class.
Defining middle class in America?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005.
But this table does not account for the large differences of cost of living in America.
Therefore, a more flexible definition for middle class would be
The system is against you
There are fewer good jobs for those who don't have college educations.
A decline in manufacturing, waning union power and increased globalization mean it's tougher than ever to get into the middle class without a college education. But globalization and outsourcing are sniping away at white-collar jobs as well, and a fast-evolving economy mean few can be content to end their educations after four years.
The price tag for education is rising.
Education was, and still is, the ticket to a more affluent life. But the cost of a college education has skyrocketed and financial aid hasn't kept up, even as the comparative worth of a degree has shrunk.
Loans have replaced grants as the primary source of financial aid, and too many students graduate with crippling debt.
A simple plan to a more affluent life
To have a middle-class life, anyone with an income and the strength need to follow these 5 steps:
1) Spend less than you make.
The key to making any financial progress is to live within your means.
2) Limit your debt.
It's costing you unnecessary interest and leaves you vulnerable to the slightest economic setback. The more you owe, the fewer choices you have.
3) Save for a rainy day.
Even $500 in the bank could allow you to weather day-to-day crises like a car repair that could otherwise push you over the edge.
4) Plan for retirement.
Start early, keep your hands off the money and don't stop for any reason. Even a small amount, scraped together and invested over a lifetime, offers a much more comfortable retirement than the Social Security alone.
5) Stay sharp.
You are the captain of your financial ship. You have to look for new opportunities and spot potential dangers.
My comment:
This article is actually advising people how not to fallen off the middle class.
Defining middle class in America?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005.
| Population group | From | To | Class |
| Bottom 20% | $0 | $19,177 | Poor/working poor |
| Middle 60% | $19,178 | $91,704 | Middle class |
| Top 20% | $91,705 | Bill Gates | Upper class/Wealthy |
But this table does not account for the large differences of cost of living in America.
Therefore, a more flexible definition for middle class would be
- having the resources to cover all your needs and some of your wants, plus the ability to save for the future.
The system is against you
There are fewer good jobs for those who don't have college educations.
A decline in manufacturing, waning union power and increased globalization mean it's tougher than ever to get into the middle class without a college education. But globalization and outsourcing are sniping away at white-collar jobs as well, and a fast-evolving economy mean few can be content to end their educations after four years.
The price tag for education is rising.
Education was, and still is, the ticket to a more affluent life. But the cost of a college education has skyrocketed and financial aid hasn't kept up, even as the comparative worth of a degree has shrunk.
Loans have replaced grants as the primary source of financial aid, and too many students graduate with crippling debt.
A simple plan to a more affluent life
To have a middle-class life, anyone with an income and the strength need to follow these 5 steps:
1) Spend less than you make.
The key to making any financial progress is to live within your means.
2) Limit your debt.
It's costing you unnecessary interest and leaves you vulnerable to the slightest economic setback. The more you owe, the fewer choices you have.
3) Save for a rainy day.
Even $500 in the bank could allow you to weather day-to-day crises like a car repair that could otherwise push you over the edge.
4) Plan for retirement.
Start early, keep your hands off the money and don't stop for any reason. Even a small amount, scraped together and invested over a lifetime, offers a much more comfortable retirement than the Social Security alone.
5) Stay sharp.
You are the captain of your financial ship. You have to look for new opportunities and spot potential dangers.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Most Americans do have sound financial foundation
Source: Liz Pulliam Weston of msn.com
Most households in America:
Are saving at least something for retirement
Eight in 10 workers participate in their company retirement plan, and 38% have an individual retirement account.
Only 16% of working-age people have no retirement savings.
Avoid credit card debt
One-quarter of the nation's households have no credit cards, while another 30% pay their balances in full every month.
Of the rest, half owe less than $2,000.
Have their total debt under control
Only about 11% of households, owe more than 40% of their incomes to debt payments.
Most households in America:
Are saving at least something for retirement
Eight in 10 workers participate in their company retirement plan, and 38% have an individual retirement account.
Only 16% of working-age people have no retirement savings.
Avoid credit card debt
One-quarter of the nation's households have no credit cards, while another 30% pay their balances in full every month.
Of the rest, half owe less than $2,000.
Have their total debt under control
Only about 11% of households, owe more than 40% of their incomes to debt payments.
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