Final answer:
The primary reason for the use of under-skilled workers or inferior materials is to maximize profits, often regardless of quality or working conditions. This is less related to international competition and more to local supply and demand dynamics for labor, especially in the service sector where jobs can't be outsourced.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of under-skilled workers or inferior supplies or equipment is primarily associated with an economic practice where businesses seek to maximize profits at the expense of quality. Such practices were historically seen during the industrial revolution when factory owners employed cheap, unskilled labor to perform simplified tasks, leading to the degradation of craft skills and poor working conditions.
For low-skilled workers, service sector jobs such as lawn care services, moving and hauling services, and hotel maids remain local in nature since these services cannot be outsourced overseas. However, it's worth noting that the local supply of capable workers often exceeds the demand for workers with those skills, which can lead to lower wages or unemployment, contributing to poverty.