Reply #8: re theory vs. reality

[guyton]

But when the constraining resource that is most efficiently utilized is labor, doesn't that ignore some details like, um, living wages? Let alone unions?

As manufacturing has been flowing offshore for the last couple of decades, there's been nothing coming in to replace it. Possibly white-collar jobs, but our education system has been short-changed so that not everyone has the needed education.

What would be the effect of ...
- zero tariffs for products from countries that match (or exceed) our minimum wages
- tariffs on products to adjust for lower-than-minimum wages being paid in their production
- total ban on products where the environment is being sacrificed to make a quick buck

and (just to stir the pot a bit)
- gov't paid education up through college level so we can get away from a 'manufacturing equals jobs' economy?