All right. Here's the link to the Atlantic Monthly article, "China Takes, The World Takes."http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200707/shenzhen
A slide show of pictures that goes along w/ life in China. http://podcasts.theatlantic.com/2007/06/made-in-china.php
Questions for "China Makes, The World Takes."
Intro pgs. 49-52
1. How has trade with China been beneficial to both China and the West?
2. How is the rise of China today similar to the rise of 19th Century America?
How It Works: The View from the Four Points pgs. 52-65
3. How does Shenzen's growth parallel that of China?
4. What did it mean Shenzen to be a "special economic zone"? How did this status help the city become a huge manufacturing center?
5. What does the term "Mr. China" mean? Why has it been so difficult for someone to keep this title?
6. Describe the life of a typical migrant worker who has left the countryside and moved to the city looking for work.
7. What is the work week like for a typical factory worker? What do these workers do after working in the factory for 2-3 years?
8. Who were the first entrepreneurs that came to Shenzen? Why did they come?
9. What are the two reasons (low-road, high-road) why American buyers keep secrets about their Chinese suppliers?
10. Why are Chinese factories attractive to those companies who have / need a quick turn-around time?
11. How is the Inventec Computer factory like the "Ford Motor Company's old River Rouge plant"?
Good For Us - For Now pgs. 65-72
12. The 11th Five Year plan in China is named "harmonious society" or hexie shehui. What does this 5 year plan attempt to do?
13. How does the Chinese government justify the low wages and terrible treatment of its workers?
14. The smiley curve shows where the Chinese workers come in at the manufacturing section. At both ends of the smile, America is there "where the money is." Why do you think it's important for America to be on both sides?
15. (p. 69) How have the Chinese helped out America's economy?
16. How do China and Japan's economic development differ?
17. What kinds of complications does America have to beware of when dealing with China in the future?
18. How is China trying to move out of the bottom of the smiley curve?
19. Why do you think the author has the opinion that manufacturing jobs that have been outsourced or sent to China will most likely, if never, come back to America? Explain.
Choose 10 total questions - you must do five that are bold and red, and you choose the remaining 5 questions to answer.
Due Thursday, 2/26/09
