In an article I read on the same subject the author blamed the state run machinery, management, material purchasing of Stainless Steel squarely on the government of China quoting the statistics including the total number of pens actually made in China now. By the way purchasing of the refills has been a tiny part of manufacture when you buy incredible numbers of them. I liken it to drill costs when amortised over the number of clean , sound holes I get from my purchased drills. Of course it all adds up.
In our country almost all manufacture of motor vehicles was subsidised to the hilt, now those manufacturers are gone done and dusted. The new cars coming in by import have a high standard and are cheaper than made in Australia. In China the Govt reigns supreme. I remember clearly with Brexit the overhead costs of the Union was in administration and red tape.
Peter.
Sorry this site is abysmal from over here it hangs up goes into fatal errors, time outs, now this morning doubled up. From all round the world I have freedom and easy access and use. Yesterday I went to my provider for hrs then my all time expert whow took over my computer for a long time I have no answer at this time.
Peter.
