[1rudeboy]

We are not "evolving away" from manufacturing, in a strict sense. We are evolving away from having a large segment of the labor force involved in manufacturing.

It just doesn't take as many bodies to manufacture a car as in the past. Simple truth.

[madvlad]

Stop being a rude boy!

Just as we evolved away from agriculture to an industrial- or
manufacturing-based econ, we are evolving away from manufacturing-
based to service- or intellectually-based (innovation-based) economics.
The service-based contribution to GDP has been steadily growing since
the 1960s and the manufacturing component has been steadily declining.
For example, the auto industry has nowhere near the impact on the econ
today that it did in the 50s (As goes GM, so goes the US).

Just as agriculture contributes less to GDP today in %age terms
than it did in 1900, so too do/will the manufacturing sectors
as they employ fewer persons and enjoy greater efficiency and
productivity.

MV

[edsheppa]

We are not "evolving away" from manufacturing, in a strict sense. We are evolving away from having a large segment of the labor force involved in manufacturing.

I see it slightly differently. We're evolving away from manufacturing being the main economic driver. Both in terms of employment, *and* output, manufacturing will become smaller as a fraction of the national economy. But this is true of the world as well.

And, by the way, I see this as a good thing as I suspect you do too.

[jpsb]

Interesting piece, the rossy scenario, could happen that way except the rossy scenario requires the rest of the world does not take protectionist actions against a US exporting devalued products (devalued dollar). That I think will not happen, since the world is protectionist. Also devaluing the dollar makes us (dollar holders) all poorer unless the boom invisioned (more dollars for more goods) happens