Sunday, July 22, 2007

Trade = Technology = Progress = Outsourcing

"From an economic point of view, outsourcing work overseas is exactly the same thing as discovering a new technology; there is no fundamental difference between having your MRI data analyzed by an Indian over the Internet and having your MRI data analyzed by clever new software that runs directly on your laptop. If technology makes us richer, than so must trade. If you cheer for progress, then you must cheer for trade."

~Steven E. Landsburg in his new book "More Sex is Safer Sex: The Unconventional Wisdom of Economics"

MP: To carry Landsburg's analysis one step further: If you support protectionist trade policies, then logically you must also be against progress and technology in general, and should also support legislation that would inhibit progress and retard technology.

1 Comments:

At 7/23/2007 10:35 AM, Blogger Abhay Chebbi said...

Very rightly said Professor.
Giving another more achievable in near future example: An advance speech recognition software will almost reduce the BPO business to half!

 

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