This week we started to discuss Wallerstein's World Systems Theory what has stuck with me the most are the terms core, semi-periphery, and periphery areas. These terms act as classifications for nations based on the parts of the world economy taking place inside of them. Core areas often house business' headquarters and do little of the actual manufacturing. Periphery areas are where the physical production and harvesting of raw materials take place. The semi-periphery areas land inbetween the two categories; they contain not only distribution and administration facilities but also manufacturing plants and raw materials.
This typology of nations seems to work well. I can think of plenty of instances where semi-periphery areas have switched to core areas because a business had moved it's manufacturing plants to periphery areas with lower wages and less regulations. America is the first one that comes to my mind. America used to perform a lot of manufacturing with little regulation and low wages, but as time went on, regulations began to develope and companies began to move their manufacturing steps to other countries. This shift "upgraded" our country from semi-periphery to core area.
The image below is an example of this situation where the move of manufacturers has been coined as outsourcing. The image not only shows a movement from America to other semi-periphery and periphery areas, but a movement out of other core areas, such as the western European nations, into those areas as well.
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