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Made in the USA

Author

Listed:
  • Smil, Vaclav

    (University of Manitoba)

Abstract

In Made in the USA, Vaclav Smil powerfully rebuts the notion that manufacturing is a relic of predigital history and that the loss of American manufacturing is a desirable evolutionary step toward a pure service economy. Smil argues that no advanced economy can prosper without a strong, innovative manufacturing sector and the jobs it creates. Reversing a famous information economy dictum, Smil argues that serving potato chips is not as good as making microchips. The history of manufacturing in America, Smil tells us, is a story of nation-building. He explains how manufacturing became a fundamental force behind AmericaÕs economic, strategic, and social dominance. He describes American manufacturingÕs rapid rise at the end of the nineteenth century, its consolidation and modernization between the two world wars, its role as an enabler of mass consumption after 1945, and its recent decline. Some economists argue that shipping low-value jobs overseas matters little because the high-value work remains in the United States. But, asks Smil, do we want a society that consists of a small population of workers doing high-value-added work and masses of unemployed? Smil assesses various suggestions for solving AmericaÕs manufacturing crisis, including lowering corporate tax rates, promoting research and development, and improving public education. Will America act to preserve and reinvigorate its manufacturing? It is crucial to our social and economic well-being; but, Smil warns, the odds are no better than even.

Suggested Citation

  • Smil, Vaclav, 2013. "Made in the USA," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262019388, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:mtp:titles:0262019388
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Douglas B. Reynolds & Maduabuchi Pascal Umekwe, 2019. "Shale-Oil Development Prospects: The Role of Shale-Gas in Developing Shale-Oil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Xie, Lei & Liu, Yunping & Han, Hongshuai & (Martin) Qiu, Chun, 2023. "Outsourcing or reshoring? A manufacturer's sourcing strategy in the presence of government subsidy," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(1), pages 131-149.
    3. Pierre Desrochers, 2020. "The Paradoxical Malthusian. A Promethean Perspective on Vaclav Smil’s Growth: From Microorganisms to Megacities (MIT Press, 2019) and Energy and Civilization: A History (MIT Press, 2017)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Jia, Fei & Ma, Xiuying & Xu, Xiangyun & Xie, Lijuan, 2020. "The differential role of manufacturing and non-manufacturing TFP growth in economic growth," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 174-183.
    5. Hyo Chan Park & Jonghee M. Youn & Han Woo Park, 2019. "Global mapping of scientific information exchange using altmetric data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 935-955, March.
    6. Kanger, Laur & Sillak, Silver, 2020. "Emergence, consolidation and dominance of meta-regimes: Exploring the historical evolution of mass production (1765–1972) from the Deep Transitions perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Patel, Pankaj C. & Ojha, Divesh & Naskar, Shankar, 2022. "The effect of firm efficiency on firm performance: Evidence from the Domestic Production Activities Deduction Act," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    industry studies; manufacturing; american manufacturing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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