Date: Sat, 04 Oct 1997 07:15:39 +0200
From: "W.A. Patterson" <patters-AT-clnet.cz>
Subject: Re: AUT: UNCTAD: Worker Backlash


Michael Novick wrote:
> 
> This is an example of a news item that seems to me relevant to, and I would
> assume of interest to this list.
> 
> Seriously, if other people do in general have the same objections as Max, I
> will be happy to shut up, go back to lurking, and stop bothering you.
> 
> -- Michael
> 
> >Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >## author     : shniad-AT-SFU.CA
> >## date       : 17.09.97
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >[This article has been excerpted.]
> >
> >International: The Dark Side of Freer Global Markets
> >
> >U.N. REPORT FORESEES WORKER BACKLASH By Bhushan Bahree Staff
> >
> >GENEVA, 16 September 1997 (WSJ): Western industrialized
> >nations are the leaders so far in globalization, but they
> >may face a political backlash from the middle class over
> >growing job insecurity, a United Nations report says.
> >
> >"Growth and development do not automatically bring about a
> >reduction in inequality," said Rubens Ricupero,
> >secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade
> >and Development, which presented the report.
> >
> >Mr. Ricupero, once Brazil's finance minister, cited the
> >United Parcel Service strike involving issues that included
> >parttime work, French strikes in 1995, and electoral changes
> >in western Europe (presumably in the United Kingdom and
> >France) as evidence of an impending backlash. "The 1920s and
> >the 1930s provide a stark and disturbing reminder of just
> >how quickly faith in markets and openness can be overwhelmed
> >by political events," he told a news conference.
> >
> >In an interview, UNCTAD's chief economist, Yilmaz Akyuz,
> >said a backlash could take any form, including "xenophobia
> >in Europe and Islamic fundamentalism" elsewhere. Mr. Akyuz
> >said UNCTAD's study of income distribution globally showed
> >..."certain groups and classes are in absolute decline," and
> >there was apprehension, especially among workers, about
> >globalization's benefits.
> >
> >UNCTAD's report is likely to irk proponents of liberalized
> >markets and officials of such institutions as the World
> >Trade Organization, who contend...globalization and freer
> >movement of goods, services, technology, and capital spread
> >benefits all around.
> >
> >The report said industrialized countries erroneously favor
> >anti-inflation policies instead of job creation and adequate
> >pay; that freer markets in many countries entice investors
> >to seek short-term capital gains instead of long-term
> >productive investment; and...liberalization so far favors
> >industrialized countries and denies trade advantages to
> >developing nations in such areas as textiles and
> >agriculture.
> >
> >The result, UNCTAD said, was a global glut of labor and easy
> >exit routes for capital, resulting in a contest between
> >countries. This was made worse in some countries that had
> >embraced the Big Bang theory of liberalization, opening
> >their doors wide before their economies were able to deal
> >with the consequences of footloose funds. The report was
> >written before the recent financial crisis that began in
> >Thailand and spread to other countries in Asia, an area that
> >otherwise was a main beneficiary of globalization.
> >
> >UNCTAD found...the income gap between the rich and the poor,
> >between nations and within nations, was widening.
> >"Globalization was supposed to close the gap, but it
> >hasn't," Mr. Akyuz said.
> >
> >
> In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
> distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior
> interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and
> educational purposes only.
> 
> Be PART of the solution -- People Against Racist Terror/
> PO Box 1055/Culver City CA 90232-1055/310-288-5003/
> Order our journal "Turning the Tide." mnovickttt-AT-igc.org
> 
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> Racist Death Penalty!
> 
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Dont Lurk, man. News, i.e. fresh information, is the very basis
of research...and understanding the details of a "situation." 
In turn, such understanding out of research is the very basis
for making strong and viable analyses...all other analysis 
would be purely academic. For what it's worth, 

WA


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