Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0000-2632-4124

Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

11-2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Government

Reader 1

Minxin Pei

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

2003 Kody C Perry

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of economic globalization on the U.S. furniture manufacturing industry, with a focus on that industry in North Carolina. U.S. furniture manufacturing was a prosperous industry focused primarily in the South and Midwest for much of the twentieth century. It provided widespread employment opportunities and economic support for the usually rural regional communities in which it was situated. The onset of globalization and the intense competition from cheaper imports produced by foreign nations, especially China, brought about a rapid decline in the industry. China became an official member of the World Trade Organization in 2001, which gave it greater access to U.S. markets. China was able to dominate U.S. furniture imports with much cheaper goods than U.S. producers could afford to provide. This devastated much of the U.S. industry in places like North Carolina. The U.S. government has since taken several steps to protect the furniture industry, but their effectiveness has been limited. A focused exploration of the U.S. furniture industry during this time highlights the downsides to globalization as well as the challenges that national governments face when attempting to protect domestic manufacturing from cheaper foreign import competition.

Download

This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

Share

COinS