The short answer to the articles final question is "Yes, many philosophers have considered this question."
If he's really interested in philosophy, he'd have come across these already, but the fact that he's asking the question would indicate he's not. That's ok, of course, but the question seems a bit odd.
The author is going to have to go back to the basic question of "What is good?" before he can answer the questions he's asking in the article.
He's making assumptions on the answer to that question based on his circumstances, which are totally different than a sweat shop worker in another country. Sweat shop working might be "better" than the alternative for that person.
My wife says, "You just have to do everything with love."
If he's really interested in philosophy, he'd have come across these already, but the fact that he's asking the question would indicate he's not. That's ok, of course, but the question seems a bit odd.