alt Hacker NewsWe can't on-shore manufacturing because labor is expensive and automation is a pipedream. But also China and India are automating their manufacturing?
We can't on-shore manufacturing because labor is expensive and automation is a pipedream. But also China and India are automating their manufacturing?
What I'm saying is the strategy needed to develop manufacturing capacity is heavily industry dependent. There also needs to be an acceptance that we may need to regress certain environmental and labor requirements.
The market dynamics and strategy needed to build e-waste processing capacity is different from that of assembling ICE cars which is different from that to develop fighter jets.
Does it makes sense to spend money rebuilding our capacity to sow clothes again, or does it make more sense to invest in semiconductor packaging? Should we invest in plastics mould injection capacity or plastic fiber manufacturing?
These are very complex questions that require domain experts working with policymakers to define requirements. Aside from the CHIPS and IRA, we haven't actually attempted industrial policy in recent years.
We also need to accept that certain industries will never return to American shores no matter what.