The answer to your question is there in your post:
Only a vast disparity between economic conditions allows this current situation to exist.
However, this disparity is not in work environment. I had the same work hours and PTO, and significantly better health benefits in India. There may be exceptions but the atmosphere in leading companies is comparable.
For costs to be comparable, the standard of living of the population AS A WHOLE must be comparable. This can only happen if:
1. More work goes to the 3rd world, raising salaries.
2. Salaries are driven down in the US.
I don't see why you blame the companies for profiteering. They are using the chasm in standards of living, that you probably used to your benefit at some point, to their benefit.
In an increasingly integrated world can you really expect to maintain this hugely superior standard of living? The only way to prevent outsourcing is to close that gap, or create protectionist laws.
To argue that outsourcing is popular ONLY because of cost seems rather racist. If americans can do something well, so can Indians, Chinese, and others. Besides, costs in India have been rising and price sensitive work is now going to SE Asia. Work will get done where it can be done best AND at the lowest cost.
Outsourcing is possible because of the wide gap in standards of living around the world. And it is about closing that gap - standards will rise in poor countries and briefly decline in the US. You may not like it but why should it be different? Do people in third world countries deserve less?
While I'm hardly a champion of globalization this is what it is - or should be - about. The US can stop outsourcing but it would loose to countries that embrace it. Just as India must prepare for outsourcing to SE Asia.
That said, the article is sadly correct about lack of creativity in India. If the west wishes to maintain its lead it had best encourage innovation in research and education - where there is still a big gap.
Slashdot Mirror
The answer to your question is there in your post: Only a vast disparity between economic conditions allows this current situation to exist. However, this disparity is not in work environment. I had the same work hours and PTO, and significantly better health benefits in India. There may be exceptions but the atmosphere in leading companies is comparable. For costs to be comparable, the standard of living of the population AS A WHOLE must be comparable. This can only happen if: 1. More work goes to the 3rd world, raising salaries. 2. Salaries are driven down in the US. I don't see why you blame the companies for profiteering. They are using the chasm in standards of living, that you probably used to your benefit at some point, to their benefit. In an increasingly integrated world can you really expect to maintain this hugely superior standard of living? The only way to prevent outsourcing is to close that gap, or create protectionist laws.
To argue that outsourcing is popular ONLY because of cost seems rather racist. If americans can do something well, so can Indians, Chinese, and others. Besides, costs in India have been rising and price sensitive work is now going to SE Asia. Work will get done where it can be done best AND at the lowest cost.
Outsourcing is possible because of the wide gap in standards of living around the world. And it is about closing that gap - standards will rise in poor countries and briefly decline in the US. You may not like it but why should it be different? Do people in third world countries deserve less?
While I'm hardly a champion of globalization this is what it is - or should be - about. The US can stop outsourcing but it would loose to countries that embrace it. Just as India must prepare for outsourcing to SE Asia.
That said, the article is sadly correct about lack of creativity in India. If the west wishes to maintain its lead it had best encourage innovation in research and education - where there is still a big gap.