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So, you live in the developed world, and you think of offshoring as something that’s just for big companies, right?

Wrong, offshoring has grown dramatically on the consumer front as well, and an article in yesterday’s newspaper really drove that home. For $99 a month, school and university students can access tutors in India. That’s about a quarter of the cost of hiring a tutor in the same area code.

For those of us involved in Internet marketing, offshoring is no secret; it’s been around for several years. For example, I paid a service in India to do some keyword searches for me. That produced good work at a fraction of the price of what a North American or European service would need to charge.

In yesterday’s newspaper article, several conventional tutors downplayed the significance of offshore tutors. They say they haven’t seen any decrease in business.

But, that’s really takes us to the point of offshoring, and even outsourcing. When prices can be pulled down, a whole new market emerges. Remember when airlines first began offering low, low discount fares? They created a new breed of airline passenger: People who otherwise would have driven their cars long distances.

Offshoring and outsourcing give consumers more choices, and more choices often create new markets. That makes this form of globalization a win-win for everyone.

You’re reading the commentary section of People, Profits, & Pensions. There’s also a book section, where you can read excerpts from my forthcoming book by the same name, visit http://www.people-profits-pensions.com . In addition to reading, you can also be a book critic and give me your thoughts on what you’ve read.