Thursday, July 01, 2010

Markets in Everything: Renting White People

Beijing, China (CNN) -- "In China, white people can be rented.  For a day, a weekend, a week, up to even a month or two, Chinese companies are willing to pay high prices for fair-faced foreigners to join them as fake employees or business partners.

Some call it "White Guy Window Dressing." To others, it's known as the "White Guy in a Tie" events, "The Token White Guy Gig," or, simply, a "Face Job."  And it is, essentially, all about the age-old Chinese concept of face. To have a few foreigners hanging around means a company has prestige, money and the increasingly crucial connections -- real or not -- to businesses abroad."

HT: Matt Bixler

6 Comments:

At 7/01/2010 8:44 AM, Blogger Ironman said...

Too funny! I wonder if they would ever consider hiring the "High Five'n White Guys."

(P.S. Yes, that really is Bill Nye....)

 
At 7/01/2010 11:16 AM, Blogger Cabodog said...

Sounds like how Board members are selected for many corporations unfortunately.

 
At 7/01/2010 12:19 PM, Blogger Benjamin Cole said...

Finally! A job I qualify for. Where to send the resume?

 
At 7/01/2010 1:09 PM, Blogger misterjosh said...

So awesome. I'm heading to China!

 
At 7/01/2010 2:25 PM, Anonymous sprewell said...

I was going to say the same as Cabodog but for all employees of many US corporations, reminds me of how women or other minorities are similarly hired just for window dressing, as evidence of "diversity." Except that the Chinese are not dumb enough to make the diversity hire do actual work, though that somehow does make the cynically crazy motives behind these moves much more transparent and obviously weird.

 
At 7/01/2010 4:36 PM, Anonymous grant said...

Maybe the Chinese manage Obama.

 

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