Manufacturing

The bill proposes useful steps to facilitate domestic commercialization, but it overreaches in placing excessive restrictions when innovators prove unable to identify domestic manufacturing capabilities despite their best efforts.

A recent working paper found that a 1-unit increase in the proxy variable for digital intensity was associated with a 5.8 percent increase in the likelihood that a firm would export.

Helping SME manufacturers adopt digital technologies will boost productivity, expand output, and allow them to simultaneously raise wages, compete in global markets, and be more flexible in their production processes.

China is leading in chemical production, especially basic chemicals. And while it is currently lagging behind on innovation—especially in more complex fine chemicals—all signs suggest it will catch up with the global leaders within the next decade or two.

The term ‘supply chain’ is relatively new, but the activities involved are not as new as we think.

A recent working paper found that not only are manufacturers that adopt robots more likely than non-adopters to export, they also export to more regions.

A recent working paper found that manufacturers that use cloud computing systems are more likely than non-users to export, and they also export to more regions.

A recent working paper found that manufacturing firms, a 1 percent increase in techies’ share of wages was associated with a 4 percent increase in TFP in the next year.

Any regulatory responses to the recent door-panel failure need to be considered and proportionate, advancing safety while also factoring in the country’s strategic competitiveness.

A recent CATO report takes liberties with statistics to deny U.S. manufacturing is in decline. But the facts remain: It is. It matters. And we need an industrial policy strategy to address it.