Demographics

Midwest Manufacturing Output Grows in February

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:59:00 +0000

Region outpaces national manufacturing production.

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) continued to edge up in February, reaching 96.3 (2007 = 100). The measure of manufacturing production increased 0.8%, following a revised 0.4% increase in January, and outpaced the Federal Reserve’s national production index increase of 0.6%.

Manufacturing production in the Midwest was 5.9% higher in February than a year earlier. National output was 2.4% higher in February than the year before.

China's Looming Worker Shortage Threatens Economy

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:34:00 +0000

China's working-age population, defined as 15-59, fell 3.45 million last year, official data showed earlier this month -- the first decline since 1963.

A Tale of Two Shores – a 2012 Retrospective

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Ron Keith, Chief Executive Officer, Riverwood Solutions

The rising consumer market in Asia makes a dramatic resurgence of U.S. manufacturing problematic.

There was so much noise coming out of Washington in 2012 about the fiscal cliff, budget deficits, taxes and especially jobs that these topics became the primary conversation at many a holiday cocktail party. Over the past few weeks I’ve been asked about the current state of offshoring vs. onshoring at least a half a dozen times. Some of the inquisitors have come from a reasonably informed perspective, while others have attempted to cloak the issue of onshoring in some form of sociological or moral high ground related to the U.S. workers’ entitlement to jobs.

Bringing Factories Back to the City

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:42:00 +0000

The 'Factory of the Future' will be greener, leaner and an integral part of tomorrow's cities.

By 2025, the number of megacities (cities with populations over 10 million) will grow from 23 to 36, the United Nations forecasts, and the population in the top 600 cities in the world will grow by 500 million.

Clinton in Plea for Workers' Rights in Asia

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:55:00 +0000

With U.S. firms poised to enter Myanmar, Clinton warns that current Southeast Asia economic model may have reached its limits.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 13 urged Southeast Asian nations to promote workers' rights and improve labor conditions as a means of spurring economic growth.

A Dominion from Sea to Sea

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:35:00 +0000

As we celebrate Independence Day this week, let's remember, as Bruce Cumings points out in his seminal work A Dominion From Sea to Sea, that America is a unique place.

The ART Of Business

GM Chief Blames Weak Share Price on Europe

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Fixing GM's own operations in Europe remains the company's top priority. GM does have new labor agreements with unions in both Poland and Great Britain.

Report: Unions Trend Toward Female Majority

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Study shows significant shift from manufacturing to services sector having dramatic impact on organized labor demographics.

GE's Citizenship Report Tackles Energy, Climate Change, Demographics

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:58:00 +0000

Governments, business and society must all play a role in renewing our economies, solving societal problems and creating jobs, says CEO.

The Competitive Edge -- When It Comes To The Economy, Population Matters

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:01:00 +0000

Based on demographic trends, Asia's population could grow to become the most productive in the world.