Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2010

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs

Committee Chair

David L. Butler

Committee Chair Department

Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs

Committee Member 2

Edward Sayre

Committee Member 2 Department

Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs

Committee Member 3

Robert Pauly

Committee Member 3 Department

Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs

Committee Member 4

Perry Carter

Abstract

This study examines call center workers in order to determine the effects of globalization on this class of service sector workers and to determine their reemployment potential. A major component of globalization is free trade, which enables offshore outsourcing (offshoring). Outsourcing often has the “Robin Hood” effect of taking jobs from rich countries and sending them abroad in a cost-saving effort, further, the competition of the global market has the capability of upsetting the current social and economic stability and prosperity. While this improves the quality of life for those in the poor country whose economy has developed as a result of global job sourcing, research is lacking on the effect that any downward pressure has on employees left displaced in the United States because their jobs were outsourced abroad. This study addressed this void by studying the labor migration of call center workers before, during, and after working in call centers in order to determine the reemployment potential of these call center workers within the context of globalization.

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