Which of the following statements about Nike's production are correct?
(A) This flexibility of labour often works in favour of the workers.
(B) In the 1980s, Nike's production widened to Thailand and Indonesia.
(C) Nike's production shifted to South Korea in the mid-1970s.
(D) We have moved from flexible dispersed production to centralised mass production.
(E) This process makes the labouring population very vulnerable and insecure.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → B, C and E only
(A) This flexibility of labour often works in favour of the workers. — Incorrect. This flexibility of labour often works in favour of the producers. Firms can shift work to wherever labour is cheapest, and the workers bear the risk.
(B) In the 1980s, Nike's production widened to Thailand and Indonesia. — Correct. Labour costs grew in South Korea, so in the 1980s Nike's production widened to Thailand and Indonesia.
(C) Nike's production shifted to South Korea in the mid-1970s. — Correct. Nike shoes were made in Japan in the 1960s. As costs increased there, production shifted to South Korea in the mid-1970s.
(D) We have moved from flexible dispersed production to centralised mass production. — Incorrect. The direction is reversed. The move has been away from centralised mass production (Fordism) towards flexible production at dispersed locations (post-Fordism).
(E) This process makes the labouring population very vulnerable and insecure. — Correct. Production centres move whenever labour is cheaper elsewhere. Workers can lose their jobs at any time, so this process leaves them vulnerable and insecure.
NCERT (2026-27): “Globalisation and a ew International Division of Labour … |