Manufacturing cost effectively and manufacturing cost effectively while maintaining workplace safety, paying a living wage and respecting the environment are two different things, and it is the latter that you are comparing with the former.<p>So the only reason why you can buy that stuff manufactured in China cheaper is because of a combination of lack of respect for human beings, sloppy environmental controls and unsafe work place practices.<p>If those were brought up to the same standards that are held in the developed countries the prices would be roughly the same after import duties and transportation costs are figured in.