Marketing outsourcing ... a positive force for change?

I recently came across an interesting debate online around whether or not outsourcing can be a positive force for innovation.

The conversation went something like this:

"Offshoring takes jobs from country A and places them, as low wage jobs, in country B, causing unemployment in country A, which further hurts the economy in country A ..."

To which the response was:

"That answer lumps all types of outsourcing into the same bucket. More accurately, some types of low wage, low skill jobs are sent off shore leaving those people from Country A to find new work. However, the bulk of Outsourcing actually supplements unavailable skills in Country A, increasing shareholder value and promoting global trade. (note: these are good things when done right.)"

Your own answer will probably be shaped by where you sit and if and how outsourcing or offshoring has affected you ... if ever. Given we are seeing an increasing number of marketing and creative organisations reaching out to potential vendors to explore this very topic, I also would like to table this question:

Is outsourcing a positive or negative thing for your industry?

Image courtesy of: pete-pick