The Travels Of A T Shirt

What I found most interesting was the story of Nelson Reinsch and his ability to keep an open mind in order to benefit from an ever-changing system of comparative advantage. Nelson worked his entire life as a cotton farmer, most of which was in the “cottonest city in the world,” Lubbock Texas. It was fascinating to hear first-hand accounts of how the cotton industry changed throughout Nelson’s life. Nelson adapted to the changing industry where farmers stuck in their traditional ways were eventually left behind. Nelson and other farmers in the region benefited from their relationships with

In the book, “Where am I wearing” written by Kelsey Timmerman goes on a adventure to find out where and who made the clothes that he wears everyday. Kelsey Timmerman believes that the people impacted by globalization encounter more problems and struggles than someone in a non globalized country. Did you know that the average amount someone is china makes per hour is one dollar and thirty six cents compared to the U.S where on average they make twenty three dollars and thirty two cents per hour. Even though the men and women in china are working roughly 3.6 hours more than people in the U.S.

The book Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli is about the journey of a plain cotton shirt internationally through the economy. This book consists of a plain, cheap t-shirt bought at Wal-Mart, is split into four important parts. The first part is about the source of the t-shirt: cotton. The second part is about the creation process the t-shirt goes through while being created in China. The third part is consists of explaining what happens after the t-shirt goes to the United States and faces the American protectionist policies. Lastly, the fourth essential part of this t-shirt is what happens to the shirt when it is finished in America (or other developed nations).

When I first heard the title Where am I Wearing, I wasn’t too excited about reading it. I thought it would be another boring school book that I was required to study. However, after reading a few chapters, I became intrigued and started to enjoy reading it. Kelsey Timmerman isn’t just another activist who is trying to convince you to stop buying clothes from big companies who use sweat shops and chid laborers. He is giving you a perspective into the lives of those who work in these factories and how they function in their everyday lives. It was interesting to hear the different encounters that he had with these people. Timmerman presents us with the ongoing concern of are sweatshops and globalization good for the people who live in these countries or do they do more harm then good?

In the essays A Web of Brands and Live Free and Starve by Naomi Klein and Chitra Divakaruni, both authors express the different aspects and their opinions of globalization. Naomi Klein focuses on the effects of globalization. In A Web of Brands, Klein looks at how the changes of the garment industry in Toronto connect to the factories of Jakarta, Indonesia. Chitra Divakaruni argues that the United States attempts to stop the practices of indentures, would have terrible consequences even though the efforts are well intended.

1. A representative of the American clothing industry recently made the following statement: “Workers in Asia often work in sweatshop conditions earning only pennies an hour. American workers are more productive and as a result earn higher wages. In order to preserve the dignity of the American workplace, the government should enact legislation banning imports of low-wage Asian clothing.” Answer the following: (10 points)

If the government enacted a special tax on imported clothing making the selling price equal to the selling price of clothing made in the United States, shoppers would see imported items with much higher prices in discount stores. If the prices of clothing made in sweatshops and in the United States were comparative, shoppers would consider the trade-offs and opt to buy clothing made in the United States for higher quality, loyalty to United States workers, and the health of our economy (Mankiw, 2011, p. 4). Wal-Mart and “big-box” stores that sell so many imported clothing items would see a decrease in sales. Shoppers would choose to buy clothing at stores that sell clothing made in the United States. These stores would see an increase in sales.

“The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy” focuses on a t-tshirt that makes its way around the world from the beginning stages of production to the end of its usefulness. Pietra Rivoli, an economist and the author of the book, tracks the life story of her t-shirt and explores the relationships between people, politics and markets.

Often, when we think of a t-shirt, not much consideration goes past throwing it on and walking out the door. We discover in The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy, author Pietra Rivoli conveys the story of a t-shirt she purchased in Florida for just $5.99. Beginning with core element of the t-shirt, she describes the cotton boom in the United States and why we have reigned supreme as the leading cotton producer. She even meets with a Texan farmer who warms your heart from the very beginning of the chapter. Next, the cotton goes on to textile mills and factories, and Rivoli explains the history of the textile industry. With this lesson, she demonstrates how the textile industry boom was a

This absence of trade policy within discussions of the Obama legacy is somewhat striking, particularly considering throughout his Presidency this has been seen as a distinguishing feature between Obama and his predecessors, both in rhetoric and practice. Obama himself has been keen to assert this distinction, arguing in a letter to National Council of Textile Organisations that “my trade policy rests on a belief in change” (Obama, 2008).

The producers in the new T-shirt value chain do not operate in a free market system. Government protectionist measures such as subsidies, quotas, and tariffs have limited economic success to a fortunate few. According to the author Pietra Rivoli, “the winners at various stages of my T-shirt’s life are adept not so much at competing in markets but at avoiding them.” These winners include the U.S. cotton farmer and the China apparel industry. Their market dominance and profitability have benefitted significantly from the political prowess of their government to limit competition.

Globalization is a system of global connections between countries that serves to increase interdependence between countries economically, socially, politically, and environmentally. In the video titled “Planet money makes t-shirts” the topic of connections is shown through a long, diverse, complex process between MDCs and LDCs. There’s a multitude of steps in the process of creating a t-shirt. This procedure is quite meticulous. The t-shirt begins in America. This is where the t-shirt is designed and where the raw materials are gathered to be shipped to the LDC, which in this case is Bangladesh and Colombia. The raw material to create the t-shirt is cotton it cost about .60 cents. The cotton is genetically modified, 90 % of American cotton

In her book, The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy, Pietra Rivoli takes on the intricacies and complexities of trade and globalization through following the path of a T-Shirt she purchased from Walgreens for $5.99. It is a very informative book and her writing is such that the reader is left feeling both well informed on the issues discussed, as well as entertained.

In the twenty-first century, it is not a secret that many American companies are actually setting up factories in foreign countries, with the majority located in Asia. Notable examples of this include athletic shoe companies such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok Additionally, most people know the reason these companies make their products overseas: “cheap labor.” However, what exactly does the term “cheap labor” entail? Moreover, how are international politics and the global economy affected by this outsourcing? While it may seem like a simple question with a simple answer, the cause of such a relationship and its effects on international commerce are deeply complex and morally questionable.

Everyday, millions of consumers in the United States contribute to the harsh treatment, under paid, and sexual abuse of factory workers all over the world. The garment industry, one of the largest in the world, generates over 3 trillion dollars a year yet the average monthly wage is 21 dollars a month, 80% of whom are women, and including children ages 5 to 14. While most apparel used to be manufactured in the United States, in the past decade a majority of manufacturers have moved operations overseas due to loose regulations according to the huffington post (Badal). The current trend of fast fashion comes at a much greater cost than we are all aware of, The True Cost, a documentary by Andrew Morgan highlights fashions “unadvertised sins” such as unregulated production, toxic garment dyes harmful to both workers and the environment, and attempts by the factory workers to form unions that end in violence (Wilson).