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Is a 2020s factory in any significant way similar to a 1970s factory? Given a factory from each era that produces roughly the same product and quantity, how ma
by NoMoreNicksLeft 3y ago
Is a 2020s factory in any significant way similar to a 1970s factory?
Given a factory from each era that produces roughly the same product and quantity, how many are employed at each? What are their inflation-adjusted wages?
It seems difficult to believe that modern factories can employ enough people for your blue collar middle class dreams to become reality. The difference in population alone is 200M vs 330M. And even modest improvements in automation has the modern factory at something like half the personnel of the 70s-era factory for the (roughly) same output.
- wizofaus 3y agoOnly half, over 50 years? That would imply less than 1.5% productivity growth rate on average, pretty sure it's been higher than that!
- NoMoreNicksLeft 3y agoTo be fair, I'm having trouble thinking of many examples of factories that might even be comparable. Auto and auto parts, obviously, are still big. But then I can't come in and say "tires" (included in the previous). What's even left?
- vel0city 3y agoThere's a number of factories around me. They make things like: Semiconductors Telecommunications equipment Elevator/Lift equipment Agricultural equipment/trailers Aeronautical parts (both mechanical and electronic/sensor) Planes Helicopters Printing services Nutrition supplements Cars Just a few off the top of my head. These all seem to be growing a lot, as I see a lot of new buildings all the time. Many of these are definitely for domestic consumption, I'll grant you that.