Believe it or not there are MANY people who would rather spend on quality rather than cheap quantity. Currently that battle in the export market is being fought between Germany and China. Clearly, China with 1.6 billion people has a larger economy than Germany but little Germany is #2 on the world export market! Why? Well according to the July 2100 edition of the ECONOMIST [pg.59] "Sales of Mittelstand [medium family size business that specialize in more complex high quality products] industrial products are growing at nearly 12% a year; more than the Chinese economy." How is this possible? They produce well-engineered products built to last and are very fast at delivering the latest products to custom market niches. They also work closely with Universities who research for them and owners rub shoulders with their workers; no confrontation between managers and union there!
Perhaps there are some lessons for Ontario firms, government and Universities. Rather than participating in the "RACE TO THE BOTTOM' [ie. cheap, low quality] why not focus on niche industries we can excel in and that provide well paying jobs? As a matter of fact, if we want to maintain our current standard of living we have not choice.
So this election let's choose to work strategically and NOT follow the failed American model of a no holds barred, de-regulated economic system. It didn't work for banking and housing and it isn't working for industry either. So let's elect a government that can get all the right players to the table to build a 21st century economy.
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