Waldo Jaquith

I have a pair of Levis jeans with a “Made in Lesotho” tag. I remember wondering two things when I first noticed that: where is Lesotho, and, is it good or bad economic politics that Levis are made there? So now I know where Lesotho is, but, is the presence of Levis as an employer a net good, or, a net bad, for the people?

Posted by Jay on 24 February 2011 @ 10pm

Wow, I had no idea that Lesotho had any manufacturing that would wind up clear in the United States. Interesting!

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 24 February 2011 @ 11pm

Lesotho: always a good Sporcle answer.

Posted by Michael on 25 February 2011 @ 9am

I could understand why Levi’s being made in Lesotho might be bad for Americans, but how could it *possibly* be anything but good for the people of Lesotho?

Posted by I. Publius on 26 February 2011 @ 9am

Yes, on the one hand, any job is better than no job, and any income is better than no income. Even so, it is *possible* that some corporations function as abusive employers. Levis and other companies are not moving their manufacturing operations to impoverished nations with few or no workplace regulations for altruistic, humanitarian reasons. They are doing so for the economic, profit incentive. So I am still wondering, what is the NET result for the people in those countries, good or bad.

Posted by Jay on 26 February 2011 @ 10am

Put “Triangle shirtwaist factory fire” in the google and hit go. You’ll gain a new understanding of what “trapped in a low wage job” can mean.

Posted by Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh on 28 February 2011 @ 10am