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Ethics of Consumer Choices Regarding Sweatshop Labor

Understand the impact of sweatshops on the economy, workers, and consumers. Explore the concept of profit maximization and the ethics of purchasing products made in sweatshops. Learn about sweatshop vocabulary, profit calculations, and the reasons why sweatshops exist. Investigate the role of free trade zones, corporations, and consumers in perpetuating the cycle of cheap labor. Reflect on the importance of fair wages and working conditions in the global market.

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Ethics of Consumer Choices Regarding Sweatshop Labor

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  1. 11/15/13 “To buy or not to buy” What is a product you wish you could have? Approximately how much does this product cost? Would you pay 25% more for this product if it was guaranteed to be made in a factory in the U.S. with good working conditions and fair wages ? Why or why not?

  2. 11/15/13 • Econ. Agenda • Sweatshop vocabulary & profit maximization (class notes) • “Sweating for a T-shirt” (watch documentary) • HW: • Sweating for a T-shirt follow-up questions • Sweatshops Quest on Tuesday

  3. 11/15/13 • Class Notes – Sweatshops • Sweatshop: • a place of work with dangerous conditions and limited worker rights and benefits • Most clothing companies earn a profit by using cheap labor in sweatshops to produce expensive clothes • Sweatshops that produce clothing in Latin America are referred to as “maquiladoras” or “maquilas”

  4. Quota: • a required number to be filled • Example: Marilena must meet her quota of producing 200 shirts today or she does not get paid.

  5. Union: • organization of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests • Unions can make demands that speak for all employees.

  6. Profit Maximization • Profit: • how much you earn after taking into account the costs of production • Maximization: • to earn the most

  7. Profit Maximization • Example: We pay upwards of $200 for Jordan’s • Nike’s Costs: • String: $0.13 • Leather: $3.00 • Plastic: $0.18 • Cotton: $1.45 • Paint: $0.06 • Worker: $3.00 • Box: $0.45 • Shipping: $15.00 $23.27 What’s Nike’s Profit? $200.00 - 23.27 $176.73 per shoe

  8. Why do sweatshops exist? Low/Middledevelopmentcountries: need money & jobs for their people Consumers: want cheap products • FreeTradeZones: • no laws to protect workers • countries make agreements to have FTZ’s where laws & tax restrictions are limited in order to maximize profit Corporations: want cheap labor and no laws Poorpeople: need jobs

  9. To Do: • Watch “Sweating for a T-shirt” documentary • Questions due for HW

  10. Exit Ticket

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