First published in 2010, Manufacturing a Better Future for America foresaw the “jobless recovery” that took place after the Great Recession officially ended. But its content is more relevant than ever, providing insight that can help the U.S. revitalize its manufacturing industry in the years ahead.
Resources
ReMaking America
ReMaking America is the second volume on manufacturing policy edited by Richard McCormack.
Blueprint for the Future
Learn more about the public policies that will spur a true manufacturing resurgence.
The Takeaways
About 40,000 U.S. manufacturing plants closed between 2001 and 2008. From 2001 to 2007, 2.3 million jobs were lost just from the U.S.’s huge trade deficit with China.
The U.S. economy cannot thrive when manufacturing jobs are replaced with low-paying service industry jobs. The idea that the U.S. does not need an industrial base has put the country and the world economy in a ditch.
Policymakers can act to boost manufacturing. Trade, skills and training, research and development, national security, supply chains, new technology and globalization all impact U.S. manufacturing.