Who knew how much our economies depend on moving stuff around? Indeed, we might describe the world economy as complex networks of supply chains. These skeletons of the global economy have become front page news – with disruptions that undermine supply chains, supply chains increasingly viewed as unfair dealing and widespread efforts to reorganize supply chains. The course will take a broad sweep – from Mr Ford’s determination to control all the supply chains in his new industry (which became the model for the industrial economy of much of the 20th century) and multi-national corporations (MNCs) to changes in the international trade and financial environments that led to a new phenomenon – outsourcing and the globalization of supply chains. Using cases of autos and semiconductors, we will look in detail at how this system works, its benefits and costs and at efforts to unwind this new world.
((Stephen Blank - Wednesday - Zoom))
