The best-known type of economic arbitrage is the exploitation of cheap labor, which is common in labor-intensive, capital-light industries like clothing. But high-tech, capital-intensive companies can use the strategy just as well. Consider the case of Embraer, the Brazilian firm that, among other types of aircraft, designs and assembles regional jets. Many factors contribute to Embraer’s success, including managerial and technical excellence, but labor arbitrage has clearly played a critical role. Witness Embraer’s employment costs, which came to $26,000 per employee in 2002, versus an estimated $63,000 in the regional jet business of its chief rival, Montreal-based Bombardier. If Embraer had had Bombardier’s employment cost structure, its operating margin would have fallen from 21% of revenues to 7%, and its net income would have turned negative. Unsurprisingly, Embraer has focused its operations on final assembly, which is the most labor-intensive part of the production process, and has outsourced other operating activities to its supplier partners.
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