Skip Navigation
Ellen Ruppel Shell

Ellen Ruppel Shell - Ellen Ruppel Shell is a professor and science journalist who teaches at Boston University. She is the author most recently of Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. More

Atlantic contributing editor Ellen Ruppel Shell teaches at Boston University, where she co-directs the Graduate Program in Science Journalism. She writes on science, medicine, the media, economics, and sometimes even sports and the arts, and tends to focus on the underlying cultural and societal implications. She is the author most recently of Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture.
« Previous Technology | Next Technology » Email Email Print Print

Your Thoughts?

By Ellen Ruppel Shell

Aug 5 2009, 9:10 AM ET Comment

The formidable Megan McArdle and I have just begun our discussion of CHEAP on her site, and, not surprisingly, several of Megan's followers are outraged at the suggestion that predatory pricing has contributed to labor abuses and environmental devastation, in addition to doing serious damage to the bargaining power of Americans who work. (At least one of these critics has gone so far as to accuse me of being a "liberal arts" major!  Given my struggles with organic chemistry, perhaps I should have been.)  

Slurs aside, these angry folks subscribe to the "Sweatshops are A Dream" view of history, a view I do not share. 


What are your thoughts?

 



Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Picture of the Day: South Africa's Radio Telescopes in Slow Motion Radio Telescopes in Slow Motion
Here Is a Map of 14,000 Venture Capital Investments Here Is a Map of 14,000 Venture Capital Investments
Go Small: Why Washington Must Give Up the Illusion of a Grand Bargain Why Washington Must Give Up the Illusion of a Grand Bargain
The Most Powerful 'Game of Thrones' Character? Bad Luck The Most Powerful 'Game of Thrones' Character? Bad Luck
Go Midwest, Young Man: Indiana's Plan to Steal California Jobs Indiana's Plan to Steal the West Coast's Technology Jobs

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus

Correspondents

View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Earthquake in Northern Italy

May 22, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)