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Why does an iPhone cost only a couple hundred dollars?…

“Why does an iPhone cost only a couple hundred dollars? Because, as the stage performer Mike Daisey depicted in an arresting one-man show called 'The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,' Apple's shiniest products are made by a shadowy company in China called Foxconn.” quote by Eric Liu
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“Why does an iPhone cost only a couple hundred dollars? Because, as the stage performer Mike Daisey depicted in an arresting one-man show called 'The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,' Apple's shiniest products are made by a shadowy company in China called Foxconn.”

Eric Liu

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The iPhone’s low price hides costly manufacturing by Foxconn, revealing hidden labor exploitation.

In simple terms: Cheap phones mask expensive, hidden production costs.

Key Takeaway

Investigate product origins.

Themes

technology economics ethics

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

analytical ethical

When to use this quote

  • consumer electronics
  • tech reviews
  • corporate responsibility reports
  • activism

Key Concepts

global supply chains labor rights

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does knowing the supply chain affect your purchase?
  • What responsibilities do buyers have?
A Different Perspective

Consumers may overlook ethical implications.

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