Just Asking Questions

Gary Winslett: The American Dream Has Migrated South

May 22, 2025
Gary Winslett, an Associate Professor at Middlebury College, explores the surprising reasons behind the Rust Belt's manufacturing decline. Instead of blaming China or automation, he argues that the South's business-friendly policies drew industry away. The conversation highlights the implications of immigration, labor dynamics, and the resurgence of blue-collar work in Southern states. Winslett challenges nostalgic views, prompting a reflection on where the American dream truly lies today—perhaps now in places like Nashville and Raleigh.
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INSIGHT

South's Policies Shift Manufacturing

  • The South's pro-growth policies caused the Rust Belt manufacturing decline, not China or robots.
  • Both political parties avoid this inconvenient truth due to conflicting narratives.
INSIGHT

Manufacturing Uses Imported Inputs

  • Many manufacturing jobs aren't directly competing with imports; they use imports as inputs.
  • This causes an overestimation of import-competitive jobs and misunderstanding of manufacturing realities.
INSIGHT

Factory Nostalgia Tied to Affordability

  • The nostalgia for factory jobs is really about household affordability, not the nature of the work.
  • Affordability allowed single income households to thrive, which is now missing.
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