I hate to join this kind of firestarter thread but I've come up with an
idea that may be utopic, or may be good.

I think that a system of import duties that relate to the real (as
evaluated by an expert panel *outside* the country of provenience) per
capita income would slowly fix this. This would mean that products made in
a country with a low income would pay high import duties, and one with a
high income, would pay low ones. This would wipe most of the price gap and
labor cost gap and allow competition on a quality basis. As a side effect
the 'cheap bargain c**p' would disappear and local manufacturing would
re-start in developed countries.

A developing country exporting would have to see that its workers get paid
reasonably well or else pay through the nose for the extra high import
duties.

Any country trying to cheat by setting too high import taxes to boost
local industry even more would be quickly rewarded by homemade expensive
c**p and possibly inflation if maintained for too long, to which electors
would respond vigorously.

Of course this is a kind of utopia under the present world market
situation and mentality. But if I'd be in a position to propose such a
thing I'd give it a good look.

Peter

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