There seems to be a common belief, mostly on the left, that businesses take their operations overseas merely for the cheap labor and the Wild Wild West of unregulated factory production and no EPA constraints. Actually, it’s not quite that simple. Cost of labor and regulation although huge considerations, aren’t the only thing companies consider before leaving the United States or on the other hand, choosing to come/remain here.
I’m talking about “The America Premium.” The America Premium is the amount of taxation and regulation—the amount of added costs and operational burden a business is willing to tolerate in order to benefit from two things that the United States does better than anywhere else: Rule of Law and Property Rights.
Some time back, a member of my loyal readership made an interesting comment. JohnCV wrote (emphasis, mine)
If you read the DI [Declaration of Independence] and Constitution in context of the events leading up to the Revolution, the issue of Property is enormous, central even. The Colonies were effectively run as a reward system for the Crown where land grants (and Governorships) were given and taken back as allegiances and friendships changed. Imagine carving a thriving business out of thousands of acres of wilderness, establishing your family and community and then having it taken away from you because King George has a new BFF. This happened. Regularly.
JohnCV was spot on. Rule of Law. Property Rights. Both of those are necessary for a robust economy in a constitutional republic. After all, who would want to do business in a country that at any point, with the stroke of a pen, “nationalize” your entire business? As he pointed out above, you put your heart and soul into creating something to feed you and your family and perhaps leave a small legacy for your progeny, then on a whim or to or to appease the masses, some tinpot leftist like Hugo Chavez or Bernie Sanders takes everything you have. If he’s smart, he forces you to run it for a pittance, until he appoints some of his cronies to come in and run it completely into the ground, sort of like the Mustang Ranch.
That is what companies are trying to avoid when they pay U.S. tax rates and shoulder the burden of U.S. regulations. So why do some companies decide to offshore their supply chain? Simple—cost-benefit-risk. In a previous series I did on trade, I had interviewed one such CEO/Owner. His assessment was pretty simple, although somewhat subjective in the end. He asked himself:
“Is what I’m paying for the America Premium, worth the savings I’ll get by offshoring and is the risk I take by abandoning U.S. rule of law and property rights worth it?”
Successful businessmen aren’t stupid. The good ones understand the difference between a tactical monetary gain, and strategic financial success. The good news is that companies, all things being equal, would really rather be domiciled in the U.S. They just don’t wish to overpay for the privilege. Leftist politicians like Joe Biden appear to believe that there is no limit they can charge for a diminishing America Premium. They then decry business owners/CEOs who make the quite logical decision to move to more amenable climes.
The way to encourage them to come back, is to put the America Premium back on permanent sale. President Trump did just that with the elimination of unnecessary and costly regulations while easing the corporate tax burden. The repatriation of overseas corporate profits was a good start, as was his regulatory repeal initiative which has now repealed 4 regulations for each new one. President Trump had started to get some real traction, with companies abandoning China in droves. Then came a stolen election and Joe Biden who via executive fiat, began to reverse everything president Trump had done.
The comparison between President Trump’s economic successes and Joe Biden’s attempt to replicate Venezuela, is proof positive that the American Premium is well worth paying for. But like anything else, it can be overpriced.
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
Parler: https://parler.com/AFNNUSA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA
It is also a striking difference between the two competing ideologies. One which is for reward for achievement, and the other as punishment, until it can reap unearned benefit from the achiever.
The left uses lawfare to extract unearned benefit from anyone it can, and taxation as a means of accumulating power. The left loves using feudal systems. It’s how they think they can keep us in our places.
The distortions of our justice system are what make that America Premium too expensive. Trump proved that, quite well.
Biden just proved how pitifully greedy and petty he was, by punishing.
Because the left think they are lords and kings.
Good article, Mike!
It’s very insightful that property rights and the rule of law are big attractions. Unfortunately, our current leadership is working overtime to destroy both.