True Cost of Low Prices: The Violence of Globalization, by Vincent A. Gallagher; Orbis Books; 147 pp.

Book Review
by Donna Graham, OSF

Most of us like the relatively low prices we find in many stores in the United States. But do we ever think about the true cost of these bargains? Do we ever look behind the racks and shelves to the people who make these prices possible? Our consumer lifestyle literally depends on the suffering of the poor in the developing world. And here Vincent Gallagher gives the evidence to prove it. Gallagher speaks from experience, from his years in the Peace Corps in Venezuela, his work for the World Bank, the United Nations and organizations investigating worker injuries and deaths.

This clear, relatively easy-to-read book (given the complexity of the issues) takes us behind the scenes of the world of global economics. We often hear, “Corporations rule the world.” Gallagher points to evidence of this reality, and to the complicity of governments in this quest for wealth and power for the few (in developed countries) at the expense of the many (in the developing world). Labor costs in the United States are high because of the justice built into our system: minimum wage, labor unions, safety, health and environmental regulations, workers’ compensation, etc. So, many corporations relocate to countries where they can pay starvation wages, use child labor, force long hours of work, and ignore safety and environmental considerations.

Gallagher puts a human face on these suffering workers who make our cheap prices possible. He has witnessed families at garbage dumps in Peru collecting recyclable materials to sell. He tells of women and children who work 18 hours a day, seven days a week to make toys for Wal-Mart, earning as little as 13 cents an hour. Women workers in American Samoa have been fired for not agreeing to have abortions. In addition, they have been physically and sexually abused, and terrorized.

Gallagher discusses numerous other issues: the politics of food, which keeps some people starving, even though there is enough food to feed everyone; modern-day slavery and trafficking; how women and children suffer the most; government-supported violence. And he challenges us, especially those of us who are Christian. What do the Gospels say? What did Jesus teach us? Gallagher points to the liberation theologians of Latin America for guidance. We must become aware, wake up from our blindness and then do something about it. We must address the systems that create the inequities and suffering.

This book can be borrowed from the JPIC Office by calling 513-721-4700 ext. 3229 or e-mailing sjbjpic@franciscan.org.