If each and every activity of the value chain is gradually farmed out, what binds labor with management and stockholders?

FORBES: The Unintended Consequences of Outsourcing

Chinooks hovered above ferrying troops in and out in a constant chain of noisy activity.

BBC: Newsbeat - Afghanistan diary: Day One

To understand how this works, let us imagine that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) develops a perfectly fragmented and disintegrated Web TV-supply chain: Every activity from the new TV-concept development, to design, manufacturing, marketing, and so on can be performed by independent subcontractors.

FORBES: The Unintended Consequences of Outsourcing

With shoppers leaving it late to buy presents this year, the chain said it increased promotional activity in the run-up to Christmas.

BBC: Branch of Debenhams in Liverpool

"But the main story is the relatively mundane but terribly important activity in electronic procurement and supply-chain optimization" made possible by the Net.

CNN: MIDDLEMEN, BEWARE

Judge Silberman ruled that under the Wickard precedent almost any activity could be deemed, through some extended chain of causation, to have an impact on interstate commerce and thus be fit for federal control.

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Last week we noted a pickup in call-side activity in retail giant Target on rumors that the discount chain might be looking to divest its credit card business.

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This not only regulated activity in a tightly planned economy, but was also a vital link in the chain of social control.

ECONOMIST: China: Could do better | The

While Bernanke was accurate to say inflation and the effects of supply chain disruption in Japan would prove to be transitory, he still holds on to his prediction that economic activity will pick up in coming quarters.

FORBES: Commerce Index Up 1% In June, More Sluggish Growth To Come