“The Good Old Days of Manufacturing Are Long Gone,” economist Rebecca Patterson argues in the pages of the New York Times, casting doubt on the promises of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump to cultivate a “manufacturing renaissance.” She could not be more wrong.
These are the good old days of manufacturing. This is, by any relevant measure, the renaissance.
But Patterson isn’t writing about the relevant measures. More importantly, Harris and Trump are also talking about the irrelevant metric, too: manufacturing employment as a share of overall employment. The error at work is an ancient and enduring one: It is the belief that the purpose of an automobile factory is not manufacturing cars but manufacturing jobs.
Say it with me: Jobs are a means, not an end.
Kevin D. Williamson is national correspondent at The Dispatch and is based in Virginia. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he spent 15 years as a writer and editor at National Review, worked as the theater critic at the New Criterion, and had a long career in local newspapers. He is also a writer in residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Kevin is not reporting on the world outside Washington for his Wanderland newsletter, you can find him at the rifle range or reading a book about literally almost anything other than politics.
Please note that we at The Dispatch hold ourselves, our work, and our commenters to a higher standard than other places on the internet. We welcome comments that foster genuine debate or discussion—including comments critical of us or our work—but responses that include ad hominem attacks on fellow Dispatch members or are intended to stoke fear and anger may be moderated.
With your membership, you only have the ability to comment on The Morning Dispatch articles. Consider upgrading to join the conversation everywhere.