Despite America being the forefront of the industrial revolution, it is quickly becoming the first “postindustrial” nation in the world. Even though our country produces an immense amount of material wealth, the rate of production is increasing at a very slow rate. One of the major causes of deindustrialization is the movement of factories from the United States to other countries. According to “Business Insider,” a business news website with industry verticals such as media, technology and financial, since October 2000 the United States has lost 5.5 million manufacturing jobs. This appears to be very problematic for the generations ahead. The United States is digging itself in a deeper hole of debt month after month. Americans are striving to maintain such a high standard quality of living and it is becoming more difficult to achieve.
According to “Media Roots,” a citizen journalism project based in San Francisco, Dell Incorporation announced plans “to dramatically expand its operations in China with an investment of over $100 billion over the next decade.” This will result in a loss of 900 American jobs. Ford Motor Company also recently stated they will close a factory in Minnesota, which will result in a loss of 750 more jobs for middle class citizens. The migration of big corporate companies to other countries, such as China, is resulting in a diminution of job opportunities for Americans. During this period of deindustrialization, the United States is falling behind and can no longer out-produce the rest of the world like it used to. “Business Insider” makes a point that Americans need to wake up and realize that it is unacceptable for our biggest export in our country today to be waste paper. The amount of job options in the United States are rapidly decreasing and Americans continue to thoughtlessly buy more and more products that are produced in other countries. The United States used to be the largest manufacturer of televisions, airplanes and automobiles and out-produced the rest of the world combined. America is becoming a shadow of what it used to be.
Sources: “Facts About America’s Deindustrialization”, Media Roots, 10 August 2011, http://mediaroots.org/mindblowing-facts-about-the-deindustrialization-of-america.php
“19 Sad Facts About The Deindustrialization Of America.” Michael Snyder, Business Insider, 2 November 2012 http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-02/news/30349296_1_deindustrialization-debt-bubble-manufacturing-base
Student Researcher: Paige Henry and Sarah Crandall
Faculty Instructor: Kevin Howley Ph.D.
Evaluator: Kellin Stanfield Ph.D, Professor of Economics, DePauw University