Zeus, Inc., a supplier of athletic shoes, operates its central manufacturing plant overseas. The bulk of its workforce is under age twelve. These employees receive the prevailing wage for that area ($1.50 for a fourteen-hour day). Unemployment is so high in the region that these children are sometimes the sole source of income for their families. Laws regulating workplace conditions and environmental impact are non-existent in that part of the world. Zeus is the largest vendor of athletic shoes in the U. S., in part because the company is able to sell its product at a far cheaper price than goods produced domestically. Required:
a. Is Zeus engaged in morally permissible behavior?
b. Do U. S. consumers have any obligation to refrain from purchasing such products based on concerns regarding environmental impact, workers rights, and child labor?