Today in class we discussed the importance of having ethical practices in a business.  As an example, we used Ikea not paying the same minimum wages in Europe as in the United States, which I found somewhat ridiculous.  First of all we overlook the fact that they are employing Europeans and Americans as well as contributing to their economies opposed to having furniture manufacturing in India or China and employing people for 50 cents a day.  This should be noted as a very respectable attribute of the Ikea Corporation.  Secondly how can you expect to pay minimum wage in Europe and pay that same minimum wage in America, which is substantially higher.  It’s as ridiculous as asking why the CEO and new guy at the till don’t get paid as much, because it’s completely different!  The economy and lifestyle in Europe and America is incomparable.  In Europe housing costs more, food costs more, gas costs more, almost everything is more expensive in Europe, and thus the minimum wage is higher.  So before we critic a company for employing people in a different economic circles and paying a different wage we should look at other companies like nike first.