ABSTRACT
The political economy of industrialization in underdeveloped countries is considered as a prelude to discussing export of expensive and illegal or hazardous work processes and the relationships of working populations in underdeveloped countries to industrialization, particularly that fostered by externally controlled multinational corporations (MNCs). The producers of vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride are almost all huge MNCs in chemicals, oil, and rubber. An hypothesis is offered and qualifications and questions are raised concerning occupational health hazards in internally controlled socialist economies versus internally and externally controlled capitalist economies. The wastage of human life during the Industrial Revolution, brought about by child labor, sweat shops, unsafe mines, and other exploitative conditions, has been extensively documented. International acknowledgement of the importance of these factors might lead to some redeployment of industries to the developing countries. Workers in underdeveloped countries are often faced with new social-psychological pressures, heavy work loads, and assaults of noise, chemical and air pollution, as well as safety hazards.
