2008 Articles

Defending Sweatshops

Bhagwati, Jagdish N.

When the reaction in the rich countries is to boycott businesses such as Wal-Mart and Primark that import inexpensive goods from the poor countries, and to shame and exhort consumers to refrain from buying “cheap goods” made in these countries, the results are certain to be harmful to the poor in the poor countries. In short, a morally motivated action will lead to unintended immoral outcomes.