Section Two
Several Asian countries such as Korea, Singapore,
Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia are major U.S. trading and
outsourcing partners. Nonetheless, the dramatic changes in
Eastern Europe also have implications for labor supplies.
Germany is especially intriguing. Although productivity in the
eastern portion of Germany is lower because of the residual
effects of communism, the prospects for rapid productivity
growth are good because the labor force is literate, competent,
mechanically adept, and has a strong work ethic. This transition
to high productivity is in stark contrast to expectations of the
labor force in many U.S. cities where illiteracy among workers
is high.^132 Although the workforce from the former East
Germany may be more skilled than those of some Eastern
European countries, the labor forces of these countries are
attractive in many respects and are now accessible to Western
companies.
barry
(Barry)
#1