March 19, 2009

I was supposed to meet Elizabeth Martin and Pam Melton before competition rehearsal in the Blatt at 8 PM, but neither showed up. Instead, I read over some of the articles I found in the journal database at USC. Here’s a summary of the articles:

Economic Development and Globalization in SC by Ford and Stone
· Increasingly international labor market
· Flow cheap labor Latin American since 90’s
· Increased Hispanic population by 225% (6th highest)
· Statistics documented Hispanics understate (actually 400,000)
· 60% Mexican
· 33% in service, 20% construction, <20% manufacturing
· Average 6-8 years education
· ¾ first generation (little English)
· Earn <2/3 average wage (and send 1/5 home)
· Keep industries alive (cheap labor)
· State already follows cheap labor path à trying to be knowledge and info based econ
· Burden under-funded public service providers (especially schools)
· No political clout get help (not citizens)
· <20% registered vote
· 1/3 plan remain