Sweatshops Are Good?

Nicholas Kristof argued that sweatshops are better than the alternative – namely, earning a living by sorting though trash. The video is hard to watch. He adds a few more thoughts on his blog:

My point is that bad as sweatshops are, the alternatives are worse. They are more dangerous, lower-paying and more degrading. And when I struggle to think how we can really make a big difference in the development of the poorest countries, the key always seems to be manufacturing. If Africa, for example, can only develop an apparel industry, it will boom.

Yglesias adds his own two cents.