The End of “Made in China”?

Abstract

It was clear that the Hai Xing Apparel Company had a problem. The manufacturer in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan was part of a sprawling mass of industrial parks and factories that had thrived on its ability to attract cheap labor. It is a common practice in the city to advertise job postings on factory gates or walls, thus allowing migrant workers to walk or pedal their bikes from factory to factory looking for jobs. In the spring of 2012, I was standing outside the company’s main gates reading a sandwich board advertising the positions on offer. A decade ago it was enough to advertise the available jobs and wage range in order to attract employees. But not anymore.