Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers: Broken Equipment

In The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman argues that the convergence of various events and technologies over the past few decades have created a greater interconnectedness among individuals across the globe. One of the hallmarks of this latest wave of globalization has been the outsourcing of American jobs to foreign countries such as India. Friedman suggests that, in light of this trend, a comprehensive plan is needed to help Americans prepare for competition in the global economy. This Book Review analyzes whether the Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program (TAA), part of the Trade Act of 1974, is a viable means for providing job training and assistance to Americans who have lost jobs due to offshore outsourcing. It concludes that the TAA program is largely ineffective and suggests various modifications