---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We [US] can't compete with low-wage…"
description: "\"We [US] can't compete with low-wage countries in different parts of the world. We cannot compete with countries that play games with currencies or regu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg"
---

#  We \[US\] can't compete with low-wage countries in different…

![“We &#91;US&#93; can't compete with low-wage countries in different parts of the world. We cannot compete with countries that play games with currencies or regulations. We can't. We shouldn't.” quote by Tom Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg)

> “We \[US\] can't compete with low-wage countries in different parts of the world. We cannot compete with countries that play games with currencies or regulations. We can't. We shouldn't.”

[Tom Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/)

## About This Quote

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

The United States faces structural disadvantages against low‑wage economies and nations that manipulate monetary and regulatory rules, limiting competitive ability.

**In simple terms:** US struggles against cheap labor and currency games.

Key Takeaway

Accept limits, seek niche strengths.

Themes

economics trade policy competition

Mood

concerned realistic

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- manufacturing
- export strategy
- policy advocacy
- investment decisions

Key Concepts

comparative advantage currency manipulation regulatory arbitrage

Questions to Reflect On

- How can the US leverage innovation to offset low‑cost competition?
- What policies could curb unfair currency practices?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring systemic constraints can waste resources and erode competitiveness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Currency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currency/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulation/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Football in Europe is No. 1 - that is what everyone watches because the best players in the world compete in this area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/football-in-europe-is-no-1-that-is-what-everyone-watches-because-the/)

[Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/)

> [We can be certain that cities around the world will compete for the jobs that the next revival of the financial services industry will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-can-be-certain-that-cities-around-the-world-will-compete-for-the/)

[Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/)

> [If the U.S. doesn't have an export credit agency, which is what the Export-Import Bank is, then we can't compete with other countries that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-muilenburg/if-the-u-s-doesn-t-have-an-export-credit-agency-which-is-what-the/)

[Dennis Muilenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-muilenburg/)

> [The literary world has to compete with YouTube, Instagram, PlayStation, Xbox, Hulu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reynolds/the-literary-world-has-to-compete-with-youtube-instagram-playstation/)

[Jason Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reynolds/)

> [US has to be able to rely on a safe and interconnected internet in order to compete with other countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/us-has-to-be-able-to-rely-on-a-safe-and-interconnected-internet-in/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [We need more of our players to follow the trend and move to Europe, which is the biggest stage in world football, but we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/we-need-more-of-our-players-to-follow-the-trend-and-move-to-europe/)

[Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/)

> [That's something I've always wanted to do, compete against other countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rozier/that-s-something-i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-compete-against-other/)

[Terry Rozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rozier/)

> [And it was a great experience, you know, to travel the world and compete at a certain level. It teaches you discipline, focus, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/and-it-was-a-great-experience-you-know-to-travel-the-world-and/)

[Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/)

> [People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/people-are-tired-of-working-longer-hours-for-lower-wages-of-seeing/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [When the press writes scare stories about the global labor supply draining jobs from rich to poor places, the story is usually presented as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sennett/when-the-press-writes-scare-stories-about-the-global-labor-supply/)

[Richard Sennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sennett/)

> [I think we do not need to send more jobs to low wage countries. I think corporate America has to start investing in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-do-not-need-to-send-more-jobs-to-low-wage-countries-i/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I think we can compete with high-wage countries, and I believe we should. New jobs and clean energy, not only to fight climate change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-can-compete-with-high-wage-countries-and-i-believe-we/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [It used to be that American and European companies built their products in low-wage countries, separated by great distances from the innovators who developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kaeser/it-used-to-be-that-american-and-european-companies-built-their/)

[Joe Kaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kaeser/)

> [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/)

[Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/)

> [“As part of this research, one group of participants was asked which two countries are more similar to one another, East Germany and West…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/as-part-of-this-research-one-group-of-participants-was-asked-which/)

[Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/)

## More by Tom Wolf

> [I should care about the education a child in Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh, or Erie, or Scranton received because if they didn't get a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/i-should-care-about-the-education-a-child-in-philadelphia-or/)

[Tom Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/)

> [I don't like the fact that we're not creating jobs the way we used to create jobs in Pennsylvania. I lament the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/i-don-t-like-the-fact-that-we-re-not-creating-jobs-the-way-we-used-to/)

[Tom Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/)

> [Pennsylvania is facing challenging economic times, a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, and negative cash flow projections. My Budget Deficit and Fiscal Stabilization Task Force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/pennsylvania-is-facing-challenging-economic-times-a-multi-billion/)

[Tom Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/)

> [The extraction tax is based in part on production times the market value at the wellhead, so any downturn in the market price is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/the-extraction-tax-is-based-in-part-on-production-times-the-market/)

[Tom Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/)

[Explore all 5 Tom Wolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/)

## More Country quotes

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/)

[Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/)

> [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/)

[Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/)

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/)

[Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/)

[Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/)

> [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/)

[Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/)

[Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We [US] can't compete with low-wage countries in different parts of the world. We cannot compete with countries that play games with currencies or regulations. We can't. We shouldn't.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tom Wolf"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countries-in-different-parts-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Country"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countries-in-different-parts-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/tom-wolf-60307_country_we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countr_1061031.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We [US] can't compete with low-wage countries in different parts of the world. We cannot compete with…” — Tom Wolf",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tom Wolf",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolf/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We [US] can't compete with low-wage...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countries-in-different-parts-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolf/we-us-can-t-compete-with-low-wage-countries-in-different-parts-of-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
