Do not labor costs also contribute to this? We see in the latest negotiations in the auto industry lowering of pay rates on the US side. Once the labor costs for semi skilled - read many in manufacturing - hit a price line, off the jobs go. To expensive to compete against with foreign imports.
I see your point and do agree... One of the catch-22's I mentioned to Durka comes in the form of the cost of living.. It's naive to think that you can source labour for an amount that is not sufficient to deal with the cost of living, however, that is also balanced out with the ability of your competitors to use that variable to their advantage.
The price-line you speak of can be best described as the difference between profitability and non-profitability. Measure this sensitivity variable against the existing investment inventory out there (comparing risk profiles, ROI, etc) and you begin to observe the appetite for where the capital will prefer to invest (not just in a company, but in regions as well).
It's a mugs game to say the least.
VATs are good for transparency though.
If you're advocating for replacing income tax (or portion thereof) with a VAT, then I'm all for it... If, on the other hand, you're suggesting adding another tax onto the heap, tehn I suggest that it will have nothing but a negative impact.
Governments dealing with private institutions?
It depends on the institution and how much they forsake a common goal for profit.
You're somehow have it in your mind that the word 'profit' is a bad word... Profits and revenues are what drives the tax base that pays for all of the common gvt goods/services.. Surely you don't believe that these services are somehow free?