The Economics Of Outsourcing

Outsourcing Economics has a double meaning. First, it is a book about the economics of outsourcing. Second, it examines the way that economists have understood globalization as a pure market phenomenon, and as a result have 'outsourced' the explanation of world economic forces to other disciplines. Markets are embedded in a set of institutions - labor, government, corporate, civil society, and household - that mold the power asymmetries that influence the distribution of the gains from globalization. In this book, William Milberg and Deborah Winkler propose an institutional theory of trade and development starting with the growth of global value chains - international networks of production that have restructured the global economy and its governance over the past twenty-five years. They find that offshoring leads to greater economic insecurity in industrialized countries that lack institutions supporting workers. They also find that offshoring allows firms to reduce domestic investment and focus on finance and short-run stock movements.

"An Elgar Research Collection"--Title page.

"This book discusses the economic impacts of outsourcing and off shoring to the developing countries and developed countries and the short term and long term implications"--Provided by publisher.

In this book, the authors present current research from across the globe in the study of the economics of regulation and outsourcing in the global economic perspective. Topics discussed in this compilation include how bank market power and market structure affect economic volatility; alternatives to traditional regulation, such as commitments on a voluntary basis, which may encourage companies to innovate and respond to environmental challenges; CO2 mitigation instruments in the transport sector; outsourcing and administrative models in Western Europe; bilateral oligopoly in the wholesale electricity market; regulating informational imperfections and market failures in the insurance market; the economics of good communication in outsourced and off-shore call centres; the role of power and dependence in outsourcing; and the movement to outsource operations in industrial environments.

"The conference held to discuss intiial versions of the chapters .. " -- p. vii.

"This book discusses the considerations and implications surrounding the outsourcing and offshoring of professional services, such as software development computer-aided design, and healthcare, from multiple global perspectives. This book, offers industry professionals, policymakers, students, and educators with a balance between a broad overview and detailed analysis of offshore outsourcing, would make an invaluable addition to any reference library"--Provided by publisher.