Globalization of Economy Makes Us Unintended Sinners

Globalization of economy has several meanings. It is usually said that the globalizaton of markets: the most powerful company occupies some commodities’ market all over the world. It is also said that it improves benefit of consumers for this system is more efficient than the restricted small market system of one country.

 

But we(Christian) should look at the production side globalization instead of market side globalization. Because it sometimes makes us unintended sinners.

 

Globalization of economy is operated as follows 1) some cheap parts are produced in some countries whose production cost is low. 2) these parts are sent to assembly(or final product) plants neighboring markets. 3) it is sold just as it is labeled “Made in XXXXX” of the country it is finally assembled. It is the system that foreign electronic companies have been operating assembly plants in North America.

 

[Of corse, some products whose added value is low are produced wholly in low costed countries like China or India. Even in this case, we should consider the aspect of preoccupancy of potential markets at the same time. Production cost is not the only consideration of enterprises.]

What I want to say in this column is the stage of supplying the parts from all over the world. The system opens possibilities slave labor penetrate into. If the final production or production of major parts is done in sweat shops, NGOs can catch it and make an effort to boycott the products.(As we can find some cases in Slave Today, Bales and Cornell, Groundwoodbooks ,2008)
 

The shocking movie, “Blood Diamond” and Fair Trade Movement for coffee, sugar etc are related with it. The SRI movement pressing pensions and funds to invest to the socially responsible companies is also an well known example.

 

But if only the some portion of parts are made from the slave labor, we can not find it out easily. So we are exposed to the possibilities getting benefit of slave labor when we are buying some commodities such as cars, electronics, or clothes.

 

Globalization of economy make us sinners to get benefit of slave labor even though we don’t intend it.