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In U.S., a Cheaper Labor Pool
Keywords:
Tags: United States,
Caterpillar is asking workers at its Canadian plant to accept a large cut in wages and benefits. Wages and benefits at Caterpillar's rail equipment plant in LaGrange, Illinois, are less than 50% of the costs at the Caterpillar locomotive assembly plant in London, Ontario. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. manufacturing labor costs per unit of output were 13% lower in 2010 than in 2000. This compares with an increase of 2.3% in Germany, increase of 18% in Canada, and increase of 15% in South Korea. Caterpillar is also asking for more flexible work rules at the Canadian plant. The flip side of this is that U.S. workers are earning significantly less in manufacturing, especially considering inflation, and the middle class is shrinking in the U.S. At the same time wages in the U.S. that are more competitive with wages in Mexico and China with flexible work rules and use of automation and technology, is helping to reverse the shrinking of the manufacturing sector in the U.S.
U.S. labor costs compared to Germany, Canada, S. Korea, and other countries 2010-2015
01/06/2012
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 01/06/2012
Employees and wages at Apple's retail stores
05/29/2010
About 30,000 of the 43,000 employees at Apple's U.S. operations are hourly workers. Most are in their early twenties paid about $12 an hour with health care benefits. Their is no career path for most workers and most leave after a couple of years for other work.
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Wall Street Journal 05/29/2010
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Apple Says App Store Sales Rose 50% in 2014
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Sluggish Productivity Hampers Wage Gains
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The New Jobs Report Shows Janet Yellen’s Quandary in a Nutshell
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Fragility of social cohesion in the U.S. with unemployment concentrated in the lower middle and working classes.
03/11/2009
Figures from the Center of Labor Market Studies of Northeastern University in Boston showing unemployment of 9% in the $40,000 to $50,000 annual household income group and going up to 31% at the lowest income group. Higher inequality as differences in education between lower income and higher income Americans grows. The problem of the long term unemployed is a serious one.
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Wall Street Journal 09/14/2011
Japan Is a Model Not a Cautionary Tale
New York Times 06/09/2013
New York Times 06/22/2013
OECD report cites rising income inequality - The Washington Post
Washington Post 12/06/2011
U.S. Schools Chief Arne Duncan Labors to Straddle Political Divide
Wall Street Journal 07/22/2013
The Great Stagnation in American Education
New York Times 09/07/2013
Increasing U.S. taxes on the middle class
04/12/2009
The Wall Street Journal points to the facts that Warren Buffett does not cover in his plea for higher taxes on billionaires like himself who paid only 17% in taxes in 2010. Buffett made most of his income in capital gains and dividends that are taxed at 15%. That income was already taxed at 35% as corporate income and the 15% on top of that brings the total tax to about 45%. Buffett could write the IRS a check or support taking away the deduction for charitable contributions which is how Buffett contributes to his foundations. For most of the middle class couples making $250,000 for a few years of their life- and much of it going to high university tution payments for kids- the higher taxes make a difference compared to the Buffetts of the world. This is part of the debate on taxes in the U.S. at the time of the fiscal cliff negotiations in Dec. 2012.
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Americaâs Sinking Middle Class
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New York Times 04/12/2009
Wall Street Journal 08/17/2011
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A Disciplined and Driven 'Connect-the-Dots' Investor
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The shrinking U.S. middle class and what this may mean for consumption in the years ahead.
02/26/2008
If only 1.9 million hourly workers earned more than $20 per hour in April 2008, when the deep downturn that hit in October 2008 had not ocurred and the shift to part time employment and lower auto related wages was just underway, what would the numbers look like by 2010? And what does that mean for consumption? Does it prolong the downturn with demand slow to pick up? What does it mean for exports from China?
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Americaâs Sinking Middle Class
New York Times 09/18/2013
State of the Union: Obama Seeks to Narrow Income Gap
Wall Street Journal 01/29/2014
More Men in Prime Working Ages Don't Have Jobs
Wall Street Journal 02/06/2014
Falling Wages at Factories Squeeze the Middle Class
New York Times 11/20/2014
Washington Post 11/22/2014
U.A.W. Contract With Fiat Chrysler Would Give 2nd-Tier Workers Big Raise
New York Times 09/18/2015
American manufacturing and the severe decline after the financial crisis of 2008.
01/20/2008
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Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
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Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Economy Falling Years Behind Full Speed
New York Times 04/07/2009
After Michigan Loss, Hillary Clinton Sharpens Message on Jobs and Trade
New York Times 03/09/2016
Economist 10/01/2009
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Comparitive advantage, free trade, jobs and the role of manufacturing in the U.S.
07/01/2010
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Does America Need Manufacturing?
New York Times 08/24/2011
Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
BusinessWeek 07/01/2010
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Bayer: Pressure on Prices Has Bad Side Effects
Wall Street Journal 02/07/2012
A part-timer boom, or blip? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 07/16/2014
Why Manufacturing Still Counts in the U.S. Economy
Wall Street Journal 01/14/2015
Manufacturing in Mexico: 2010-2014
05/22/2006
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Hopes Rise That More Natural Gas Will Stoke Manufacturing Sector
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Despite Violence, Mexico Plants Hum at Border
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To Churn Out Engineers for Learjet, Mexico Opened Aeronautics University
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The New Learjet...Now Mexican Made
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Mexico’s economy: Making the desert bloom
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The special role of manufacturing in keeping the U.S. economy strong.
07/01/2010
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Does America Need Manufacturing?
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Why Manufacturing Still Counts in the U.S. Economy
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Strong Dollar Stands in Manufacturing Sector’s Way
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U.S. manufacturing cost-competitiveness with China and Mexico leading to the return of outshored manufacturing jobs
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China Manufacturers Survive by Moving to Asian Neighbors
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Mexico, China Seek to Jump-Start Trade
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Strains Show in China's Job Market
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Caterpillar sales and financial performance
09/18/2010
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Caterpillar Continues to Crawl Along
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With Caterpillar, Digging In for the Long Haul
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Caterpillar's Sales Roll Along to a Latin Beat
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Caterpillar Expects Sales Will Stabilize
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Caterpillar Loses High-Speed Train Contract
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American wages and the global economy in 2009.
11/11/2009
Downward adjustments in American wages as part of the global adjustment as America imports too much from low wage countries.
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New York Times 11/11/2009
Inflation inflicting pain, as wages fail to keep pace with price hikes - The Washington Post
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China Speeds Economic 'Transformation'
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Obama Focuses on âThriving Middle Classâ in Speech
New York Times 02/12/2013
The problem of declining wages and rising inflation in the U.S. - 2011-2012
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OECD report cites rising income inequality - The Washington Post
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Recovery Has Created Far More Low-Wage Jobs Than Better-Paid Ones
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Job Growth Fails to Help Paychecks of Workers
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Hiring Booms, but Soft Wages Linger
Wall Street Journal 01/10/2015
Sluggish Productivity Hampers Wage Gains
Wall Street Journal 03/07/2015
U.A.W. Contract With Fiat Chrysler Would Give 2nd-Tier Workers Big Raise
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Wages, benefits and productivity in U.S. manufacturing 2005-2015
01/01/2010
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Does America Need Manufacturing?
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Whirlpool Shifts Some Production to U.S. From Mexico
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Wall Street Journal 01/06/2012
U.S. Productivity Growth Has Taken a Dive
Wall Street Journal 02/04/2014
Falling Wages at Factories Squeeze the Middle Class
New York Times 11/20/2014
A disappearing U.S. middle class in 2012-2015
01/20/2010
Meyerson, Ignatius and others ask the tough questions about America and the prospects for a future with a disappearing middle class, pointing to the need to structure globalization and build cooperation between workers, management and the government in new constructive ways.
Grouped Articles
Americaâs Sinking Middle Class
New York Times 09/18/2013
State of the Union: Obama Seeks to Narrow Income Gap
Wall Street Journal 01/29/2014
More Men in Prime Working Ages Don't Have Jobs
Wall Street Journal 02/06/2014
New York Times 02/08/2012
Falling Wages at Factories Squeeze the Middle Class
New York Times 11/20/2014
Washington Post 11/22/2014
Increasing disparity in incomes, higher inequality and the middle class.
01/03/2010
The situation in the US, Germany, Britain, China, India, Brazil and other countries.
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Survey in China Shows a Wide Gap in Income
New York Times 07/19/2013
New York Times 09/12/2013
German elections pit Merkel, challenger over poverty problems - The Washington Post
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Americaâs Sinking Middle Class
New York Times 09/18/2013
Europe's Easy-Money Policy Snubs German Savers
Wall Street Journal 11/25/2013
Germany's Social Democrats Agree to Coalition Talks With Merkel
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James Galbraith on the U.S. economy in 2010-2012
01/15/2011
The University of Texas professor on the American middle class, the supercommittee on deficit reduction and the minimum wage.
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California Set to Raise State Minimum Wage
Wall Street Journal 09/13/2013
Americaâs Sinking Middle Class
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New York Times 12/01/2013
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New York Times 04/27/2014
Hiring Booms, but Soft Wages Linger
Wall Street Journal 01/10/2015
Tom Keene Talks to James K. Galbraith
BusinessWeek 11/23/2011
The view that the burden of U.S. deficit reduction is falling on the elderly, the poor and the middle class
01/20/2010
Bernie Sanders and other leaders who see this as a problem with the plans for U.S. deficit reduction that are under discussion.
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Low Interest Rates Are Squeezing Seniors
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Andy Grove and the scaling up at home that American companies need to do.
05/29/2010
Andy Grove brushes off talk of sending technologies and jobs much needed at home to China, with the talk he hears of "a China strategy." He doesn't see how an America with high paying jobs and mass of unemployed could work. He says American companies have failed to scale up, the way Intel did in the seventies. For every Apple employee there are 10 employees in China working on Mac's, Iphones, and Ipads. The idea of manufacturing as not important is misguided and he would like to see America rebuild its industrial base.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2010
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Apple Says App Store Sales Rose 50% in 2014
Wall Street Journal 01/09/2015
After Michigan Loss, Hillary Clinton Sharpens Message on Jobs and Trade
New York Times 03/09/2016
Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
BusinessWeek 07/01/2010
Yuan Revaluation for China's Own Sake
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Export of manufacturing jobs from the U.S.
07/01/2010
Grouped Articles
Does America Need Manufacturing?
New York Times 08/24/2011
Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
BusinessWeek 07/01/2010
Whirlpool Shifts Some Production to U.S. From Mexico
Wall Street Journal 12/20/2013
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
A part-timer boom, or blip? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 07/16/2014
Why Manufacturing Still Counts in the U.S. Economy
Wall Street Journal 01/14/2015
Manufacturing and Innovation
07/01/2010
How a decline in manufacturing, which the U.S. has experienced, depresses innovation capabilities. Germany and Japan have tried to maintain manufacturing strengths.
Grouped Articles
Does America Need Manufacturing?
New York Times 08/24/2011
Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
BusinessWeek 07/01/2010
In New Books, a Look at People and Places That Innovate
New York Times 09/04/2010
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Boeing Teams Speed Up 737 Output
Wall Street Journal 02/07/2012
Bayer: Pressure on Prices Has Bad Side Effects
Wall Street Journal 02/07/2012
U.S. manufacturing 2010-2015
04/07/2009
Grouped Articles
Does America Need Manufacturing?
New York Times 08/24/2011
Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
BusinessWeek 07/01/2010
Whirlpool Shifts Some Production to U.S. From Mexico
Wall Street Journal 12/20/2013
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Economy Falling Years Behind Full Speed
New York Times 04/07/2009
Why Manufacturing Still Counts in the U.S. Economy
Wall Street Journal 01/14/2015
Caterpillar strategy
09/18/2010
Grouped Articles
Caterpillar Continues to Crawl Along
Wall Street Journal 04/21/2013
With Caterpillar, Digging In for the Long Haul
Wall Street Journal 10/23/2013
Wall Street Journal 10/24/2013
Caterpillar's Sales Roll Along to a Latin Beat
Wall Street Journal 09/18/2010
Caterpillar Expects Sales Will Stabilize
Wall Street Journal 01/28/2014
Caterpillar Loses High-Speed Train Contract
Wall Street Journal 02/28/2014
Caterpillar and labor costs
09/26/2011
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 10/24/2013
Wall Street Journal 01/06/2012
States Pay to Train Workers, to Companiesâ Benefit
New York Times 01/07/2012
Caterpillar to Close Assembly Factory in Canada
New York Times 02/03/2012
As Unions Lose Their Grip, Indiana Lures Manufacturing Jobs
Wall Street Journal 03/17/2012
Ratification of Unionâs Deal With Caterpillar May Face Difficulties
New York Times 08/15/2012
High unemployment and declining wages in the U.S.: 2010-2012
01/01/2010
Grouped Articles
OECD report cites rising income inequality - The Washington Post
Washington Post 12/06/2011
Wall Street Journal 08/12/2013
No longer the land of opportunity - The Washington Post
Washington Post 01/05/2012
Recovery Has Created Far More Low-Wage Jobs Than Better-Paid Ones
New York Times 04/27/2014
The world economy: Wealth without workers, workers without wealth
Economist 10/06/2014
Falling Wages at Factories Squeeze the Middle Class
New York Times 11/20/2014
The strike at Caterpillar's Joliet, Illinois plant, its Canadian plant and efforts to improve U.S. manufacturing competitiveness
01/19/2011
Grouped Articles
Whirlpool Shifts Some Production to U.S. From Mexico
Wall Street Journal 12/20/2013
China's Export Pain May Be Mexico's Gain
Wall Street Journal 02/06/2012
U.S. Car-Making Boom? Not for Auto-Industry Workers
Wall Street Journal 03/24/2015
Caterpillar Union Bows to Demands
Wall Street Journal 08/18/2012
Wall Street Journal 01/06/2012
New York Times 09/26/2011
Caterpillar's effort to improve manufacturing competitiveness in the U.S. and Canada
01/06/2012
Linked Articles
Caterpillar Union Bows to Demands
Wall Street Journal 08/18/2012
Wall Street Journal 01/06/2012
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