manufacturing

The authors explore some basic properties of the size distributions of firms and of their growth processes both at aggregate and disaggregate levels. They also explore the relations between measures of size distributions and the nature of the underlying growth processes and discuss some admittedly unresolved puzzles.

The author identifies the determinants of wages and productivity in Mexico over time using national representative linked employer-employee databases from the manufacturing sector. Findings indicate that both employers and employees are benefiting from investments in education, training, work experience, foreign research and development, and openness after the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The paper studies the Japanese manufacturing industry, and finds that local knowledge spillovers and immobile specialized labor affect regional growth. Thus, while regional demand of
tradable outputs matters less, regional supply of inputs, specially non-tradable inputs, remains critical for manufacturing locations.

The report form the Progressive Policy Institute stresses three steps for the government to take in order to help boost U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. The author contends the Bush administrations economic ideology precludes such steps from taking place.

Important trends, possible trend-breaks, challenges, opportunities and possible visions for the future of manufacturing in Europe are highlighted within the report. Scenarios are illustrated that may offer a glimpse into socio-economic developments and future technologies that are likely to shape the European manufacturing industry.

The white paper by the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM) suggests that the U.S. can compete successfully with low-wage countries if industry and government rally around two basic goals: increase labor productivity by greatly accelerating the use of advanced technologies; and leverage national resources through a major expansion of public-private partnerships.

Research from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid suggests that spillovers from product innovations are greater than those derived from process innovation. The report also suggests that public policies targeted more exclusively toward encouraging product innovations by firms may be more effective and beneficial than a current portfolio of policies. The study analyzes data on more 2,000 manufacturing firms from 1990 to 1998.

The survey funded by Minnesota Technology Institute finds that most of Minnesotas out state manufacturing companies are facing increased competition, specifically from Chinese manufacturers. Respondents on average estimated a 20 percent loss in sales by 2003, attributable to Chinese manufacturing.

The analysis prepared for the California Manufacturing and Technology Association finds that manufacturing is a robust driver of Californias economy. The Milken Institutes assessment reveals that the regional purchase coefficient was 2.4 greater in California than the national average. Included in the report are detailed analyses of manufacturings contributions to the states major and smaller metro areas.

The Info Brief for the National Science Foundation found that high-tech manufacturing has grown substantially over the last decade in Latin America. The report states that the combined high-tech manufacturing production of seven Latin American countries has increased 93 percent between 1991 and 2000.