Technological Trends Affecting the Manufacturing Sector of New York City

[...]The loss of manufacturing jobs has created a widespreadsense that manufacturing in New York City has nofuture, that the decline is unstoppable and “largely inevitableand foreordained” (Fitch 1993, p. 107). Even theoptimistic report of the Commission on the Year 2000,New York Ascendant, predicted “an ongoing decline inmanufacturing,” though it recognized that high-valuemanufacturing could compete in New York City and that“the city should make every effort to support the manufacturingthat can be successful here” (Commission on theYear 2000 1987, pp. 30-1).Despite the substantial losses in manufacturingover the past two decades, manufacturing is still a vital—though diminished—part of New York City’s economy.Within the context of a massive decline in manufacturingjobs, there has been a remarkable change in the structureand character of manufacturing activities in New YorkCity that warrants serious attention by researchers andpolicymakers.[...]