Economist Podcasts The Intelligence: The next stage of the tech wars
14 snips
May 10, 2024 
In this discussion, Lizzie Peet, an Economist researcher, dives into the fierce showdown between developers and preservationists surrounding New York City's Seaport Tower. She highlights how this clash reflects broader urban development concerns, wrestling between the need for affordable housing and the preservation of historic character. The chat also touches upon America's tech rivalry with China, revealing the stakes around chipmaking and green technology. Plus, there's a heartfelt tribute to a pioneering zoologist’s obsession with giraffes.
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Tech War Supremacy
- The US and China are locked in a tech war for supremacy across various sectors, from pharmaceuticals to AI.
- This conflict, initiated under Trump and continued by Biden, involves subsidies and trade barriers.
Tech War Strategies
- America's tech war strategy involves curbing exports to China, subsidizing domestic chip production, and blocking Chinese firms' access to its market.
- China's response is more passive, focusing on domestic production and global exports, despite US controls.
Future of the Tech War
- A Trump administration likely means a more aggressive approach to the tech war, restricting Chinese components and investments even for subsidized American firms.
- This approach prioritizes a China-free supply chain over a rapid energy transition, potentially slowing down global decarbonization.
