In this timely conversation, Conrad Bastable (https://x.com/ConradBastable) breaks down his epic essay "Forsaking Industrialism" and explores why the West has abandoned manufacturing while China built a world-beating industrial platform over decades.
Read it here: https://www.conradbastable.com/essays/forsaking-industrialism-the-most-expensive-thing-you-didnt-buy
We dive into how EU regulations inadvertently benefited Chinese manufacturing, why tariffs alone can't solve America's industrial challenges, and what it would take to rebuild America's manufacturing capabilities.
Conrad explains the concept of "platform economies" that China has mastered, why capital markets naturally push against long-term industrial investments, and the uncomfortable trade-offs between principles and prosperity that nations must navigate. From electric dirt bikes to BMW's battery dilemma, this wide-ranging discussion offers a fresh perspective on the most urgent debate in America.
Conrad's reading recommendations:
- Alexander Hamilton's "Report on Manufactures" https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-10-02-0001-0007
Conrad's other essays:
- "Full Stack of Society" https://www.conradbastable.com/essays/the-full-stack-of-society-can-you-make-a-whole-society-wealthier-full-version
- "Escalation Theory" https://www.conradbastable.com/essays/escalation-theory-compliance-violence-and-overachievement-in-society
- "Monetization & Monopolies" https://www.conradbastable.com/essays/monetization-amp-monopolies-how-the-internet-you-loved-died
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