An official website of the United States government. 
Adjustment Costs, Trade Policy, and Labor Market Dynamics
Publication Number
2021-11-A
Topic
Labor
Manufacturing
Policy
Publication Topics
Author(s)
Sarah Oliver
Abstract
Using data on service occupations in U.S. manufacturing sectors in 2016, this paper seeks to highlight the value of in-house services in U.S. manufacturing output, by assessing the relationship between the share of services occupations in a particular sector (services occupation intensity) and typical education and compensation in service occupations. Overall, this paper finds a positive and significant relationship between services intensity and the typical education level of service workers within sectors, and a positive and significant relationship between service intensity and the average compensation of service occupations across sectors. For U.S. manufacturing sectors, these in-house services represented between $8.7 and $17.5 billion in additional services value added in 2016 compared to $56.8 billion for intermediate services inputs in the same year.
Author(s)
Samuel M. Goodman
Abstract
Photovoltaic energy production has increased dramatically over the past decade as manufacturing costs have decreased, power conversion efficiencies have increased, and demand for carbon neutral electricity has grown. Silicon-based solar cells represent the largest market share within the photovoltaic industry, with the remainder substantially composed of the thin-film materials cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). The materials used in CdTe and CIGS are less common and their available supply is mediated by a long value chain. This article examines those value chains, including mining, refining, and solar cell manufacturing to discuss potential bottlenecks for future production. While there is enough of these elements to meet current and near-term demand, the production of CdTe and CIGS solar cells will be fundamentally constrained due to limitations when recovering raw materials from parent ores.
Author(s)
Brian Daigle , Mihir Torsekar
Abstract
The United States has long had the world’s most successful medical device (or medtech) industry, with the European Union (EU) serving as its largest export market. The trading bloc’s reputation for relatively timely market approvals has long benefited these U.S. manufacturers. However, the EU’s soon-to-be-implemented Medical Device Regulation (MDR)—an overhaul of the previous medtech regulatory regime—may present a number of obstacles for U.S. and other medtech firms that could limit their access to a critical market.
Author(s)
Lin Jones, Christine Kobza, Finian Lowery, Caroline Peters
Abstract
The evolution of re-exporting hubs, entrepôts, is explored in this paper by looking at trade patterns of merchandise re-exports over the last 20 years through three key economies (Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States), and their inter- and intra-regional linkages. The growth of re-exports of intermediate goods during this period suggests that these economies are playing an increasingly important role in global value chains (GVCs) by acting as hubs in regional supply chains. Findings also indicate that high volumes of intermediate goods that are re-exported appear in sectors in which GVCs have a strong presence, as in the case of semiconductors.
Author(s)
David Riker
Abstract
This article examines the geographic concentration of manufacturing imports as they enter the United States. Variations in import shares at the U.S. Customs district level can be explained in part by the distances between the districts and the exporting countries, and in part by the districts’ proximity to the U.S. consumers who will buy the imports. The patterns in the import data indicate that shipping costs within the United States affect consumption patterns for imported goods. They also identify the consumers that are likely to gain the most from trade liberalization—those living in the states closest to the most frequent ports of entry of imports. These patterns suggest that the geographically disaggregated data contain economically relevant information that could be incorporated into models of international trade.
Tags(s):
Manufacturing
Author(s)
Sharon L.N. Ford
Abstract
This article explores the development and application of additive manufacturing as well as initiatives in the United States and other countries to advance it. It also examines the technology’s effect on firm and industry production activities, as well as the potential implications for U.S. manufacturing competitiveness focused in three industries. It concludes that the most significant factors affecting the potential of additive manufacturing to contribute to U.S. competitiveness are developing standards, improving the selection and affordability of materials, and increasing the accuracy and reliability of equipment and processes.
Author(s)
David Riker
Abstract
This article analyzes the weekly earnings in U.S. manufacturing and services industries, based on data for approximately 164,000 workers in 2014. It estimates the earnings premium in export-intensive industries, based on an econometric analysis that combines worker-level data on earnings, education, occupation, and other demographic characteristics from the Current Population Survey with industry-level data on exports and total shipments of manufactures and services. The estimates indicate that export-intensive industries pay more on average and that the export earnings premium is larger for blue collar workers in production and support occupations (they earn a 19.0% premium in export-intensive manufacturing industries and a 17.6% premium in export-intensive services industries) than for white collar workers in management and professional occupations (they earn a 9.9% premium in export-intensive manufacturing industries and a 12.0% premium in export-intensive services industries). Overall, the export earnings premium in 2014 is 16.3% on average in the manufacturing industries and 15.5% on average in the services industries.
Estimating the Distributional Effects of Trade Policy Changes on Labor
Publication Number
2021-05-E
Topic
Labor
Manufacturing
Policy
Publication Topics
State-Level Employment Implications of Trade Policy
Publication Number
2021-05-A
Topic
Labor
Manufacturing
Policy
Publication Topics