US Manufacturing or Cross Cultural Consumption

U.S. Manufacturing: The Engine for Growth in a Global Economy

Author: Thomas James James Duesterberg

Evolving rapidly from a mass-produced product orientation to a flexible, solutions-oriented model, the changing manufacturing sector is poised to lead a global economic recovery. Truly an insider's guide to the future of this critical sector, this book provides policy recommendations based on a wealth of information.

Table of Contents:

	Illustrations
	Foreword
	Preface
Ch. 1	Introduction and Principal Conclusions	1
Ch. 2	The Transformation of U.S. Manufacturing: A Broad Analytic Framework	17
Ch. 3	The Changing Structure of U.S. Manufacturing and Its Labor Force	35
Ch. 4	The Central Role of New Technology Development and Application	67
Ch. 5	Broadening Value Added to Include "Solutions," Customized Products, and Related Services	95
Ch. 6	New Paradigms for 21st Century Manufacturing and Their Impacts on Automation	121
Ch. 7	The Rapid Globalization of Markets for U.S. Manufacturing	145
Ch. 8	The Changing Nature of the Firm	177
Ch. 9	The Engine for Growth in a Global Economy: An Integrated Policy Response	197
	Endnotes	221
	Bibliography	233
	Index	239
	About the Editors and Contributors	247

Book review: Mrs Kennedy or Pursuit

Cross-Cultural Consumption: Global Markets, Local Realities

Author: David Howes

Goods are imbued with meanings and uses by their producers. When they are exported, they can act as a means of communication or domination. However, there is no guarantee that the intentions of the producer will be recognized, much less respected, by the consumer from another culture.

Cross-Cultural Consumption is a fascinating guide to the cultural implications of the globalization of a consumer society. The chapters address topics ranging from the clothing of colonial subjects in South Africa and the rise of the "hypermarket" in Argentina, to the presentation of culture in international tourist hotels.

Through their examination of cultural imperialism and cultural appropriation of the representation of "otherness" and identity, Howes and his contributors show how the increasingly global flow of goods and images challenges the very idea of the "cultural border" and creates new spaces for cultural invention.