Global Economy: “Traveled from a Texas cotton field to a Chinese factory to a used clothing market in Africa”
In 2005, economist Pietra Rivoli published The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy. The book, which quickly became a classic, traces process of globalization by following a single t-shirt, from the cotton fields of Texas, to the Chinese factory where the raw cotton was turned into a t-shirt, to the retailer in the United States, and finally to a used clothing market in Africa. Along the way, readers are exposed to a wide variety of topics, including international trade rules and the politics of subsidies and protectionism. It’s an engaging read and a powerful way to get students to reflect on the ways in which they participate in the global economy through their daily activities.
After using Riovoli’s book in my class, I developed an assignment to encourage students to think more deeply about that connection. I ask them to identify the clothing they wear for a…
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Dr. Bukar Ali USMAN, mni 