The hottest Industrial Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Biden's tarnished industrial legacy

Noahpinion • 15235 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Analysis Industrial Policy Political Legacy
  1. Biden's industrial policies, like the CHIPS Act, created a boom in U.S. manufacturing, which is good for the economy. These programs encouraged private companies to invest in factories and technology.
  2. Despite some successes, Biden's approach had major flaws, like listening too much to special interest groups and not fixing regulatory issues that slow down government action. These problems could hinder the future of manufacturing in America.
  3. Blocking Nippon Steel's attempt to buy U.S. Steel seemed like a protective move, but it upset an important ally, Japan, and could hurt the U.S. economy by stalling investments and modernization that the deal would have brought.

Labor Unions Are Industrial Policy

BIG by Matt Stoller • 32430 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Unions Antitrust Corporate Power Industrial Policy
  1. Labor unions can influence corporate investment decisions and set industrial policy.
  2. There is a shift towards empowering workers to have a greater say in how corporations operate.
  3. The rise of antitrust enforcement, labor activism, and focus on domestic manufacturing subsidies are interconnected in challenging the influence of financiers and middlemen.

Japan isn't quite "back", but it has a fighting chance

Noahpinion • 11000 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Economic Policy Defense Immigration Industrial Policy Corporate culture
  1. Japan's stock market is rallying due to foreign investment, but the real economy is struggling with recession and weak manufacturing and exports.
  2. Japan is increasing defense spending and bringing in foreign workers to address labor shortages, however, concerns remain about assimilation and potential backlash.
  3. Japan needs to focus on reclaiming its position in key industries like electronics, developing a software industry and EVs, and reforming its corporate culture to boost economic growth.

The Right Industrial Policy Thinks Small

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 19 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Industrial Policy Economic Development Entrepreneurship
  1. Support small companies instead of big ones. Small companies can be more flexible and focused on their mission, leading to better outcomes.
  2. Encourage young and hungry talent. It’s smarter to invest in fresh ideas from people who might not be well-known yet than to only look for established experts.
  3. Spread out resources more evenly. Smaller subsidies to many innovators can create more successful companies than big subsidies to just a few giants.
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How Taiwan Sees the Chip War

ChinaTalk • 548 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Geopolitics Industrial Policy Taiwan AI Technology
  1. Taiwan has become a leader in the semiconductor industry, mainly due to effective industrial policies, the rise of TSMC, and a focus on education and talent. This development is crucial for understanding Taiwan's economic success.
  2. TSMC's success can be attributed to a mix of technological advancement and customer service. They prioritize satisfying customer needs, which is vital for maintaining their competitive edge.
  3. Taiwan's geopolitical situation makes its chip industry crucial for global supply chains. With rising tensions globally, TSMC's role is likened to a protective 'Silicon Shield' for Taiwan, reflecting its importance in international relations.

Links to Consider, 11/4/2024

In My Tribe • 227 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Economics Labor Market Management Industrial Policy
  1. The job market is changing due to AI taking over routine office tasks. However, more complex management roles might still require human skills.
  2. Some believe that good foreign policy relies more on talking than on action. Words can sometimes seem like solutions even when they aren't.
  3. Recent manufacturing job growth is happening in places less affected by international trade issues. Many manufacturing jobs are still not unionized, which means fewer protections for workers.

Alexander Hamilton Did too Believe in "Industrial Policy"!!

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 176 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Political History Government Industrial Policy Federalism
  1. Alexander Hamilton supported the idea of using government policies to help grow local industries. He believed that controlling foreign competition can actually help American goods become cheaper over time.
  2. Hamilton thought that while tariffs might raise prices temporarily, they could lead to long-term benefits for domestic manufacturers and even help farmers by making goods more affordable.
  3. Critics of Hamilton miss the point that he advocated for state involvement in the economy to promote national growth, which is a form of planned economic strategy.

Debating China's Industrial Policy + Jordan in London

ChinaTalk • 592 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Industrial Policy Economic Policy
  1. Industrial policy in China is a contentious issue, with supporters believing in state intervention for progress and critics arguing for a free market approach.
  2. The debate between economists Lin and Zhang reflects the tension in China's economic thinking on the role of the government versus the market.
  3. Xi Jinping's industrial policies are shaped by the Party's political will to surpass the West in GDP and technology, balancing between state intervention and market forces.

Ukraine's neoliberalism on steroids, Europe’s economic suicide

Geopolitical Economy Report • 458 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🌍 World Politics Europe Russia Neoliberalism Industrial Policy Trade
  1. The conflict in Ukraine reflects aggressive neoliberal reforms and Europe's self-destructive policies.
  2. Wars are fought not just with arms, but also with economic strategies. The underlying geopolitical economy is complex.
  3. Russia is focused on turning military victory in Ukraine into a new economic order, challenging Western imperialism and promoting a multipolar world.

Links to Consider, 3/18

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Status Industrial Policy Higher education
  1. The perspective that social media is responsible for the prevalence of disinformation is challenged. The era of the mid-twentieth century press was also insular and biased.
  2. There has been a shift in societal values, with the relative importance of a good job increasing in status over having a good family.
  3. The implementation of industrial policy, like the CHIPS Act, is criticized for being slow and laden with DEI-related issues that hinder progress.

BRIEFLY NOTED: 2024-02-12 Mo

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 146 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Economics Journamalism Spatial Computing Industrial Policy Interest Rates
  1. Capital is increasingly substituting labor, affecting income inequality and job opportunities.
  2. Some New York Times reporters display lack of awareness about key policies and issues, raising questions about the purpose of journalism.
  3. The Apple Vision Pro VR headset is considered innovative but not without limitations, targeting a specific tech-savvy audience.

Faster Turnaround Times, Constraints, Time, and Money

Exponential Industry • 58 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💼 Business Technology Industrial Policy
  1. The theory of constraints drives manufacturing decision-making with everything being a function of burn rate.
  2. Industrial goods can be challenging to ship economically, with examples of moving large industrial equipment like a brewhouse and die tools using unconventional methods.
  3. Robots have become significantly cheaper and more precise over the years, making them more accessible for a variety of tasks.

Robot Picking Shining Discs and Water Balloons

Exponential Industry • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Manufacturing Industrial Policy AI Robotics Manufacturing Funding Industrial Policy
  1. Robotic grippers are becoming more tactile and AI-enabled across various industrial processes, signaling advancements in technology in the industrial sector.
  2. Investments and partnerships in AI, robotics, and technology are driving significant transformations in various industries like waste management, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and industrial automation.
  3. Innovations like Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) in 3D printing are showcasing unique and disruptive approaches to traditional manufacturing processes.