The Progressive Policy Institute hosted an economic forum to discuss the critical role of manufacturing in the era of the app economy.
PPI Chief Economic Strategist Michael Mandel presented the findings of his new paper, “Manufacturing in the Age of the App Economy: How Many Factory Jobs Should We Aim For?”, co-authored with PPI economist Diana G. Carew.
The panel included Michael Mandel, Jared Bernstein, Leo Hindery and Louis Uchitelle, who discussed the critical role manufacturing plays in today’s app-fueled economy. There was debate regarding the best tools and policy options available, and the consensus that emerged was that the federal government must refocus and redouble its efforts to promote American manufacturing and make it more competitive. By creating a smart manufacturing agenda for the 21st century, we can add balance to our economy and put America back on the sustainable path of producers, not consumers.
An explicit jobs target is the first concrete step towards achieving that goal. PPI believes we should aim to boost manufacturing employment up to 15.5-16 million, a level last reached in 2001. The employment spillover effects of manufacturing are also significantly larger than commonly thought, so more manufacturing jobs would create more jobs elsewhere as well. With unemployment still unacceptably high, the imperative to act has rarely been more clear.
Download “Manufacturing in the Age of the App Economy: How Many Factory Jobs Should We Aim For?”
Date:
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
9:30 – 11 a.m.
Featured Panelists:
Michael Mandel, Chief Economic Strategist, Progressive Policy Institute
Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Leo Hindery, Managing Director, Intermedia Partners
Louis Uchitelle, Economics Writer, The New York Times
Location:
The Mayflower Hotel, Chinese Ballroom
1127 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC
