El Podcast

E86: Understanding the Global Supply Chain Collapse w/ Peter S. Goodman

Episode Summary

Peter S. Goodman join us to discuss the complexities of the global supply chain, emphasizing its reliance on China and the challenges small companies face in avoiding it. It discusses the push for diversification, the role of consultancy firms like McKinsey, and the focus on short-term gains over long-term resilience. Key topics include issues in shipping and trucking, such as price manipulation and poor conditions for truck drivers. The impact of automation, the concentration of power among billionaires, and the need for antitrust enforcement are also highlighted. The conversation concludes by stressing the importance of recognizing the labor behind the products we consume. Subscribe now and join us for this engaging and informative episode!

Episode Notes

Peter S. Goodman, global economics correspondent for The New York Times, discusses his book How the World Ran Out of Everything, exploring how the pandemic exposed the fragility, complexity, and monopolization of the global supply chain.

Guest Bio: Peter S. Goodman is the global economic correspondent for The New York Times and author of How the World Ran Out of Everything and Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World. He has previously reported from China, London, and Washington, covering globalization, trade, and economic inequality.

Topics Discussed (in order):

• Introduction to the global supply chain and pandemic-induced shortages
• Story of Glow, a Mississippi startup navigating China-based manufacturing
• The complexity of building simple products and iPhones
• Overdependence on China and difficulties in diversification
• The resilience and brittleness of just-in-time manufacturing
• Role of government and Wall Street in shaping supply chains
• Semiconductor shortages and the Arizona TSMC plant
• Historical context: Henry Ford and vertical integration
• Corporate financialization and buybacks vs. reinvestment
• Shift toward treating supply chains as national security
• The role of microchips in defense and economic power
• Trade, offshoring, and consequences for U.S. labor
• McKinsey and the consulting industry's influence
• Trucking industry realities and labor conditions
• Labor shortages and deteriorating job quality
• Current disruptions: Houthi attacks and Suez rerouting
• Origins of globalization via containerization
• Automation, AI, and future of logistics
• Davos Man and elite influence on policy
• Lobbyists, consultants, and systemic self-interest
• Monopoly power, antitrust, and future reforms
• Will vertical integration return? Toyota vs. Ford models
• Final thoughts and how to find Peter’s work

Top Quote:
"We should get over this idea that billionaire interests are our interests... We can’t step away from democracy—we still have to have a say over the conditions that shape the marketplace."

📺Watch on YouTube ➡️https://youtu.be/5Eu6nGGqdGA