And with the decline of the traditional manufacturing…
““And with the decline of the traditional manufacturing industries in recent years, it's getting worse, not better. As capital becomes more fluid and it becomes easier for corporations to move production to the Third World, why should they pay higher wages in Detroit when they can pay lower wages in Northern Mexico or the Philippines? And the result is, there's even more pressure on the poorer part of the population here. And what's in effect happened is they've been closed off into inner-city slums―where then all sorts of other pressures begin to attack them: drugs, gentrification, police repression, cutbacks in limited welfare programs, and so on. And all of these things contribute to creating a very authentic sense of hopelessness, and also to real anti-social behavior: crime.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Industrial decline and global labor shifts create low‑wage competition, deepening urban poverty and social decay.
In simple terms: Job loss and cheap overseas labor increase city hardship and crime.
Key Takeaway
Address inequality and invest in local jobs.
Themes
economics
urban decay
globalization
Mood
concerned
critical
urgent
Type
analytical
policy
When to use this quote
- city planning
- community development
- education programs
- crime prevention
Key Concepts
labor markets
social stratification
policy failure
Questions to Reflect On
- How can cities attract fair‑wage jobs?
- What policies can mitigate outsourcing effects?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all corporations act solely on profit, ignoring ethical considerations.