| ... having no job is better than a low-paying job, in your analysis? Perhaps yes. A price is a signal. As with any restriction on free speech, outlawing certain prices (low wages) should show a clear and easily demonstrated social benefit. In this case, private free enterprise is clearly harmed, but the benefit returned to society is an intangible, a void: society receives only the absence or reduction of sweatshop working conditions. I think we are actually in violent agreement on most of these issues. The major exception, I think, is that I am deeply skeptical of a society's ability to check the worst behaviors of private corporations. I believe that certain entire business models are better legislated against and rendered completely illegal, to prevent regulatory capture [0]. EDIT: This view seems to be controversial. May I suggest a little light reading? [1] [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle |