Does China build skyscrapers better than toys?
By Steven O’Hern, Reader Advisory Panel 2008 The sad news of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in China should be a warning to business leaders seeking to invest in China. Low quality manufacturing and lack of regulation in China resulted in toys contaminated with lead that had to be recalled. Since the toy recall, more dangerous products from China were uncovered including tainted heparin that resulted in 81 deaths in the United States. The same business practices that disregard safety are likely to be present in building construction in China. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake is just short of the level of total destruction. Imagine the results of such an earthquake with an epicenter closer to Bejing and occurring during the Olympics. China will take advantage of the desire of multi-national corporations for lower prices and higher profits as long as our government will allow dangerous products to be offered to American consumers. China’s price advantage results in part from its lower standards
