Fast Boat to China: Corporate Flight and the Consequences of Free Trade; Lessons from Shanghai

The author brings to light how Free Trade is effecting the culture of China: some well paid workers still choose a simple life and others are gung-ho on consumption. The low wages and government concessions given to foreign investment in the country create the movement of both white and blue collar jobs from other countries -- developed and developing countries in particular -- into China. I am glad to have read that the standards that the Chinese government and businesses expect from foreign companies, which are established in China, is higher than what is expected from local Chinese companies. This is unfair in a business sense but it shows respect from the non-Chinese companies. I have been given the impression that foreign companies are better to work for. For the foreseeable future the decisions that the Chinese government makes, along with international trade agreements, will effect every other developed, developing and undeveloped country on the planet. An appalling example is of how a U.S. company that set up shop in Taiwan terminated the employment of a large number of employees that had been with the company for almost 25 years. The termination was to release the company of its obligation to provide the employees with a retirement pension, which was legally required by Taiwanese law if a worker was employed with the company for 25 or more years. The point here is the treachery of such companies. In comparison, when employees leave a company because they are aware that they are about to be fired for such a reason, the companies that were about to fire them will legally prosecute the employees that are looking for a new or better employer. The legal persecution arises from the past employees taking knowledge with them to a competitor. It isn't a fair, two way street! There is a growing lack of loyalty on the parts of the employee and employer. It is hard for me to take a side rationally in an informed way, but I am biased for the wage earner over the corporation when I hear of such sociopathic behaviour from a company. It has been a number of months since I read the book from the library so I can not review it to provide a summary. But what has stayed with me is my opinion that the jobs flow will not stop. Nationalism and "Buy Local" is not a solution. I think wage earners around the world need to form "grass roots" organizations with which to pressure governments and multinational corporations to provide civilized behaviour out of those corporations and a chance for the The Bottom Billion to catch up via *fair* trade agreements. Not until we all do our part to help get labour conditions and wages improved in developing and undeveloped countries will we see economic conditions stop deteriorating in many other developed countries. Please, no comments on my opinions. I only hope you have an impression on what an individual may take from reading this engrossing, and enlightening book.

Rarely we find a book like Andrew Ross's present a fair and balance view of US-China trade relationship. I think Andrew present China's side of arguement really well without demonizing the Chinese. Also, his analysis of US-China trade relationship is unusually sophisticated which is rare among American writers. Usually when it comes to issues regarding China, American authors do not try to understand where the Chinese stands. Not from Andrew Ross. Andrew understands the complexity of US-China relationship, instead of using the "we are right, the Chinese are moron" attitude. I also like his analysis of relationship between Indians and Chinese. Unlike many other authors, he does not try to compare which side is better. Instead, he tells us the complexity of the relationships of the two.

Ross explores the origins, current state and possible directions of "outsourcing" focusing mostly on the Asian continent. The impact of the existing and emerging trends are presented without any political bias or apparent hidden agenda. That is perhaps most remarkably refreshing aspect of the book. A significant number of books on this topic are typically political and biased. For each "debatable" issue, Ross presents arguments from both sides and discusses them in the context of his personal interviews with workers. The chapter focusing on India-China relations and possibilities is perhaps the best written chapter in the book, and is the topic is treated in a fairly novel way. If you want an unbiased look on the impacts of outsourcing from a worker's perspective, this is a must-read. Ross uses a very simple, narrative style that makes the book engaging and easy-to-read. The book is pretty detailed and you can expect to spend some time reading it (a good thing!). The notes/citation section at the end of the book is comprehensive and useful for the more serious reader. A must read.

Ross is usually ahead of the curve and it looks as if he has done it again. Instead of joining the chorus against outsourcing he has done his homework in China, interviewing the people who are supposed to have taken our jobs. I don't know another book that describes what the offshore impact of free trade looks like, or who benefits most from it. The on-the-scene reporting is sharp and detailed, and I agree with the Publishers Weekly reviewer that even more of it would have been welcome. I came away from the book with a lot more questions in my mind about jobs and globalization. Everything that happens in China now affects all of us, and Ross nails the role that corporations are playing in this transnational game.

This is an excellent book. For anyone interested in business and trade, obviously we need to keep our eyes on what's happening in China. Ross offers a very relevant critique of current business models and at the same time provides captivating history and culture lessons. Also, it's really well written, the author has a very nice style.