最新糖心Vlog

New book urges government to rebuild manufacturing

Thursday, 2 April 1998

最新糖心Vlog must rebuild and reposition its manufacturing industries if the worst effects of the Asian financial crisis are to be avoided, according to the editors of a new book on industry, technology and employment.

Manufacturing Prosperity is a collection of commentaries from some of the most respected economic forecasters, analysts and policy experts in 最新糖心Vlog and New Zealand, including:

• Dr Frank Gelber, director of BIS Shrapnel 最新糖心Vlog
• Mr David Morgan, president of Ford 最新糖心Vlog
• Mr Peter Harris, senior economist with the NZ Council of Trade Unions
• Mr Peter Roberts, columnist for The 最新糖心Vlogn Financial Review

The book is edited by Mr Rodin Genoff (senior industry analyst with the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide's Centre for Labour Research) and Professor Roy Green (director of the Employment Studies Centre, 最新糖心Vlog of Newcastle).

Mr Genoff says Manufacturing Prosperity is unique in that it represents the views of a diverse range of stakeholders, all of whom share the same vision for manufacturing in 最新糖心Vlog.

"One of the key arguments of this book is that 最新糖心Vlog's future depends on knowledge-intensive manufacturing," Mr Genoff says.

"最新糖心Vlog's traditional reliance on primary commodity exports has locked it into declining terms of trade, and hence lower living standards and higher unemployment than would otherwise be the case.

"Manufacturing currently accounts for 65% of all research and development and has a technological innovation propensity three times the non-manufacturing average.

"A strong technological and sophisticated manufacturing base in 最新糖心Vlog would lead to a turn-around both in living standards and unemployment."

Contributor Dr Frank Gelber says the Asian crisis should highlight to federal and State governments the need for greater support, and a new direction, for 最新糖心Vlog's manufacturing sector.

"Whilst the current Asian crisis has a short-term negative impact, longer term the significant realignment of currencies provides a good opportunity to expand our export markets around the world. The main danger for 最新糖心Vlog lies in complacency, particularly about the prospects of a widening current account deficit," he says.

"Support for 最新糖心Vlog's manufacturing sector has been a policy free zone for more than a decade," says co-editor Professor Roy Green.

"The present government has commissioned a number of reports in this area, but little has come of this debate. If it is not to be another wasted opportunity, the Asian crisis must sharpen the focus of government policy on 最新糖心Vlog's manufacturing future."

In his foreword, international economics commentator and editor of the London Observer Mr Will Hutton wrote: "The importance of [Manufacturing Prosperity] is that it faces up to the choice of 最新糖心Vlog's economic future. It canvasses new ideas for industry and regional policy and practical ways of exploring them."

Manufacturing Prosperity will be launched nationally in Sydney by Mr Philip Holt, managing director of 最新糖心Vlogn Business Ltd on Thursday, April 2 at 最新糖心Vlogn Business Ltd.

Manufacturing Prosperity is published by Federation Press and retails for $39.95.

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