Products are no longer durable
Feb 02, 2009
The whole world, particularly Americans are looking at Barack Obama as a liberator who will transform the economy in their interests. However, there has been an evil notion perpetrated by industrialised nations to maintain superiority over others at the e
Yosam Baguma
The whole world, particularly Americans are looking at Barack Obama as a liberator who will transform the economy in their interests. However, there has been an evil notion perpetrated by industrialised nations to maintain superiority over others at the expense of the unsuspecting customers worldwide. This notion has been the cause of the world financial crisis.
Originally industries made products motivated by profit but emphasising durability and beauty as critical criteria for maintenance of competitiveness in the world market. Examples are the British Landrover and the German Benz.
Somewhere along the line, especially after the emergence of Japan, production changed to emphasising customer preferences of market oriented production. The product was only for advertising while subsequent products were devoid of original ingredients but maintaining the same appearance only, to cheat the unsuspecting customers.
Therefore, planned product obsolescence though popular in the industrialised world, is unethical. Industries make a lot of money for immediate and medium-term benefits which sometimes hurt the economy in the longrun.
The challenge facing President Barack Obama in his efforts to change America for the benefit of his people is, to influence world manufacture motive to stop debasing products to make them expire like medicine.
The bottom line should be that the lifespan of products should not be tailored for making a lot of money but rather for providing sufficient utility to customers.
Secondly, America’s role as a leader of the World Bank and IMF has left a lot to be desired. The conditions for accessing funds have not been equal for all. They have been fair for American interests and unfair for other countries especially the Third World, thereby guaranteeing freedom for America only.
There is a challenge for Obama to change America’s world outlook and attitude to ensure freedom for all countries.
The world economic order has hit a snag, therefore, while designing a new order the bottom line must be satisfaction of the needs and interests of humanity. Other options will not be sustainable.
The writer is a former RDC of Mubende
The whole world, particularly Americans are looking at Barack Obama as a liberator who will transform the economy in their interests. However, there has been an evil notion perpetrated by industrialised nations to maintain superiority over others at the expense of the unsuspecting customers worldwide. This notion has been the cause of the world financial crisis.
Originally industries made products motivated by profit but emphasising durability and beauty as critical criteria for maintenance of competitiveness in the world market. Examples are the British Landrover and the German Benz.
Somewhere along the line, especially after the emergence of Japan, production changed to emphasising customer preferences of market oriented production. The product was only for advertising while subsequent products were devoid of original ingredients but maintaining the same appearance only, to cheat the unsuspecting customers.
Therefore, planned product obsolescence though popular in the industrialised world, is unethical. Industries make a lot of money for immediate and medium-term benefits which sometimes hurt the economy in the longrun.
The challenge facing President Barack Obama in his efforts to change America for the benefit of his people is, to influence world manufacture motive to stop debasing products to make them expire like medicine.
The bottom line should be that the lifespan of products should not be tailored for making a lot of money but rather for providing sufficient utility to customers.
Secondly, America’s role as a leader of the World Bank and IMF has left a lot to be desired. The conditions for accessing funds have not been equal for all. They have been fair for American interests and unfair for other countries especially the Third World, thereby guaranteeing freedom for America only.
There is a challenge for Obama to change America’s world outlook and attitude to ensure freedom for all countries.
The world economic order has hit a snag, therefore, while designing a new order the bottom line must be satisfaction of the needs and interests of humanity. Other options will not be sustainable.
The writer is a former RDC of Mubende