It didn't matter which administration was in. It would of happened anyway. Capitalism needs a revision if it is to protect itself from authoritarian kleptocracy. It wasn't the Republicans who invented that.
It's the same with AI imho.
<<was offshoring a result of containerization>>
AI Overview
Yes,
offshoring was a direct, enabling result of containerization, as the dramatic reduction in transport costs and increased efficiency in shipping made it economically viable to break up manufacturing processes and move production to low-cost, distant locations. Containerization, which emerged post-World War II, acted as a catalyst for globalization and the fragmentation of supply chains.
How Containerization Enabled Offshoring:
- Drastic Cost Reductions: By standardizing cargo handling and enabling "intermodalism" (smooth transfer between ships, trucks, and trains), containerization slashed shipping times and costs. This made importing components or finished goods from overseas cheaper than producing them domestically.
- Facilitating Global Supply Chains: The ability to move goods reliably and cheaply allowed firms to separate the production of components from final assembly, leading to the rise of offshore manufacturing.
- Rise of "Just-in-Time" Production: The efficiency of containers allowed for more precise, fast-paced logistics, enabling manufacturers to move production to places like Asia while relying on a steady flow of inputs.
- Scale and Speed: Container ships grew 370-fold in capacity since 1956, allowing for massive economies of scale that further decreased the unit cost of transporting goods, incentivizing the relocation of labor-intensive industries.
While other factors like trade liberalization and advances in communication technology also contributed to the rise of offshoring, containerization was the physical, logistical backbone that made it practical.
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