How much do you think it costs to make a pair of Nike shoes in Asia?

Post by Symbiote » Wed, Apr 09, 2025, 6:10 PM UTC

ajb wrote: post #233

pjc50 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> US will find itself in the same position the UK is in now The thing is .. there's a point here, but it's not at all tied in with physical products. People are obsessed with one side of the ledger while refusing to see the other. Most of the stuff the UK is struggling with (transport, healthcare, energy) are "state capacity" issues. Things where the state is unavoidably involved and having better, more decisive lead…

There are two parts to the fishing thing. From a pure economic perspective, fishing is insignificant. But within living memory obtaining food was a national security issue for the UK (during world war II). In a world in which states look not to grow their economy, but to harm others - and guess what, that's where we just arrived - not all industries can be considered purely on their revenue. Man cannot live on warham…

Post by gowld » Wed, Apr 09, 2025, 6:11 PM UTC

kolanos wrote: post #225

bpt3 wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their population is declining, and they are a long way away from parity with the west on a per-capita basis. I think China missed their opportunity. Also, the UK hasn't dominated finance for a century and has never been dominant in services, so it doesn't seem like an apt comparison.

> Their population is declining, ... This can not be overstated. China is on the verge of the largest population collapse in human history. By 2080 China's population will drop by 600 million. If that trend continues, by 2150 China's population will drop to 280 million. Other asian countries such as South Korea and Japan are on a similar trajectory.

Post by _diyar » Wed, Apr 09, 2025, 6:12 PM UTC

sys32768 wrote: post #232

I prefer leather shoes that last five years or more, and will happily spend $200+ for them.

Post by logifail » Wed, Apr 09, 2025, 6:13 PM UTC

matt-p wrote: post #240

logifail wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The UK stepped on its own rake because it was obsessed with tiny, already vanished industries like fishing This isn't just a UK issue: "Fishing is a relatively minor economic activity within the EU. It contributes generally less than 1 per cent to gross national product."[0] and if you look beyond fishing, agricultural policy as a whole is - not sure how to put this politely - not easy to understand: "The CAP is of…

For another "not just the UK" example france has managed to persuade the EU not to buy british weapons out of the extra defence fund unless the UK give France some of it's fishing rights. Can you imagine being Poland and not getting the best anti-tank weaponry, or the best missiles because you want the french to have more fishing rights? Completely barking mad. https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-rejects-eu-plan-tie-d…

Post by xienze » Wed, Apr 09, 2025, 6:14 PM UTC

coffeebeqn wrote: post #35

xienze wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That completely discounts the strategic value of self-sufficiency. I mean, why not outsource ALL manufacturing and agriculture if someone else can do it cheaper? Surely that wouldn't come back to bite us, right?

Are cheap sneakers a strategic asset now?