What lessons can modern America learn from the rapid economic growth of Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore? These four nations, often referred to as the "Asian Tigers", modernized their economies by implementing an export lead growth model and education reform. As the reeling dollar contributes to select regions of the United States becoming viable centers of production, could an "American Tiger" emerge?
True, America is already industrialized and our labor force will not toil for the wages of our Asian counterparts. Yet do these discrepancies preclude the possibility of exports propelling the American economy? Even if propelling is a heavy-handed term then perhaps kick-start would be more appropriate. Manufacturing was once among the pillars of American economic power. Is it possible to utilize current economic conditions to foster greater manufacturing with in our own boarders?
What an interesting question. First, it's gonna take a lot of love to get any of the high volume, low-tolerance work back from Asia - or wherever it ends up. Mature markets just can't compete with the low cost countries, even if energy prices double (God forbid).
However, I can see lots of mid-level work being pulled back regionally. As several factors combine to force buyers to revisit their sourcing strategies, there can't help but be some opportunities that emerge. "How much?" is the important question.