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I have one about Italy http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/world/europe/13prato.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/world/europe/13prato.html

• jaclaz 9y ago
  >I have one about Italy Prato is a case on its own, there is no "large company" or "compound". The Chinese have come on an individual basis, after the first few came (which dates much before, in the 80's) they brought families, friends, etc., and replaced - little by little - the native artisans (largely in the textile sector). But even before they arrived, Prato's economy was different from any other Italian textile district, there have been traditionaly very few large factories (there were some, but not like - say -northern Italy), besides the workers in the factories everyone worked in small laboratories or at home, often involving all the family members in the production. (and it was not at all uncommon that factory workers had anyway a couple looms at home that they worked on the evenings or night, while their wives operated them during the day, while doing the normal household chores). The Chinese simply replaced the natives, adopting the exact same "individual" approach.