CHEAP LABOR STRATEGIES AND EXPORT-ORIENTED INDUSTRIALIZATION - SOME LESSONS FROM THE LOS-ANGELES EAST-ASIA APPAREL CONNECTION

In today's global manufacturing system, production is increasingly dis persed across borders. Particularly noteworthy is the rapid expansion of industrial exports from third world countries, especially the NICs of East Asia. With the entry of the formerly socialist countries of ea stern Europe into the global capitalist economy, the dynamics of globa l economic restructuring are likely to change. This paper focuses on t he lessons chat can be learned from studying trans-Pacific global comm odity chains, drawing out implications for East-Central Europe. In par ticular, we explore the role of flexibilization, subcontracting and st ate policy.