Patriotic Spending Has a Bigger Impact Than You Realize

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Many Americans love the idea of buying products and technology made in America over imports. But buying American made products may be more than a feel-good choice.

While the full article is no longer available on USA Today, you can find the original full text below.

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Many Americans love the idea of buying products and technology made in America over imports. But buying American made products may be more than a feel-good choice.

A number of researchers and organizations are taking a closer look at the real impact of choosing the “Made in America” label, and the results may have a bigger impact on the future than you’d expect.

Job creation

When you buy American products, you are creating American jobs. There’s a direct impact on the employees and owners of the company producing the product, as well as the people employed at organizations supplying the inventory, utilities, equipment and services to that company.

Money is like blood. It must keep moving to keep the economy healthy. Spending it on foreign-made products is like a wound that gradually drains it. Research found that buying products made in America has doubled the impact on the domestic economy relative to buying foreign made products.

When you don’t buy American Made products, you’re wounding America.

It isn’t only about a patriotic act of helping a neighbor; it’s more like not cutting him with a small pocketknife every time you make a purchase.

“Research found that buying products made in America has doubled the impact on the domestic economy relative to buying foreign made products.”

Lowering your long-term cost

Anyone who has shopped on Amazon or at Walmart has seen the flood of cheap products made in countries like China and Vietnam, which wear out quickly. Many companies have found they can increase their own margins by creating cheaper-made products that will have to be replaced much more frequently.

It’s not just an American feeling; American made products are known for a higher quality. Economists at The Boston Consulting group found that 60 percent of Chinese consumers are willing to pay more for products labeled “Made in the USA” than for those labeled “Made in China.”

Better for families

Products made in America must follow American consumer protection laws and safety standards. Many foreign countries have far less extensive product safety standards than those in the United States, frequently leading to recalls and safety issues.

Healthy companies invest in product innovations and research and development year after year. The past few decades have seen an increasing wave of research in digital technologies, new materials, and automation. Many of the top innovative companies in the world are based in California, Georgia, New York and Chicago.

Addressing poor conditions

Most of us prefer not to think about this, but many countries do not enforce the same worker safety and child protection controls of Western countries. It can be hard for companies to compete on cost with regimes willing to exploit their own people. You’re supporting a higher standard of working conditions when you buy American-made.

U.S. regulations for American companies are much cleaner for the environment than some countries such as China, India and others, as well. When you look for “Made in America,” you are making this country better than ever. Every purchase gives us more control over our country’s future and lets us help prepare the next generation for success.

– Kurt Uhlir, Chairman, Made in America Movement