The Critical Role of Manufacturing in National Defense and Technology

Manufacturing employment has been declining as a share of total employment in the U.S. What's driving this decline? Does the reduction in manufacturing employment represent a natural progression as economies evolve? Can manufacturing jobs today offer a stable, well-paying means of employment for those without a college education? If not, what policies can help those without a college education find careers that offer a path to the middle class? Robert Lawrence joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these questions. Robert is the Albert L. Williams Professor of International Trade and Investment at the Harvard Kennedy School. He served as a member of the President's Council of Economic Advisors from 1998 to 2000. His latest book is 'Behind the Curve: Can Manufacturing Still Provide Inclusive Growth?'