Another aspect is the shift by large corporations away from direct employment in favour of outsourcing for most aspects of their business. Things like manufacturing, distribution, administration, customer support, janitorial, retailing...(the list goes on) are routinely contracted out to the lowest bidder which cuts corporate costs of course, but usually at the expense of wages and benefits. At the same time these businesses impose stringent standards on these contractors to maintain brand loyalty and investor confidence. The end result? Look south of the border to a nation of low income earners, a shrinking middle class, and income disparity where the numbers are staggering.
