Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Business & Economy
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Business & Economy

Professor Jason Dedrick on Foxconn’s New Wisconsin Plant

Thursday, July 27, 2017, By Ellen Mbuqe
Share
facultyFoxconniPhoneSchool of Information Studies

Technology expert and iSchool Professor Jason Dedrick offers insight on the news that Foxconn is opening a new plant in Wisconsin.

“Foxconn’s announced $10 billion investment looks like good news for Wisconsin. If completed, it would create a significant number of jobs for engineers and technicians, as well as construction workers as it is built. The question is whether this is a model for a resurgence of advanced manufacturing in the U.S.

The main issues are (1) whether the benefits outweigh the costs of various subsidies likely used to attract Foxconn’s investment, (2) whether this investment can attract other manufacturers of key components to the U.S., and eventually create a supply chain that can support final assembly of smart phones such as Apple’s iPhone, most of which are made by Foxconn, and other products that use flat-panel technologies, and (3) whether this investment will benefit laid-off U.S. manufacturing workers.

The first question can’t be answered fully without knowing the actual subsidies that were offered, but we can consider the benefits side of the equation.  First, the $10 billion figure is impressive, but most of it goes to purchasing expensive equipment to manufacture the displays, none of which is made in Wisconsin. The amount of money that will return to the state depends largely on the tax breaks given to Foxconn.

The second question is critical. The panels made in this plant could end up being shipped to China for assembly into products sold around the world—this is a global value chain after all.  In order to replicate the local supply chains in China, Korea and elsewhere in Asia, it would require hundreds of suppliers to locate in proximity to the Foxconn plant.  This is possible, but would take many years and probably large ongoing subsidies. Even then, labor-intensive final assembly of smart phones and TVs might end up in Mexico.

Finally, this investment will do little for laid-off auto or steel workers in the Midwest. Flat-panel production requires specialized skills, primarily engineers and technicians, who will be hired from wherever they are available. Some might be from local universities or other companies, but they won’t be at the unemployment office.  The U.S. produces great engineers, but they are in high demand, so Foxconn will compete with U.S. and multinational tech companies for a limited supply. Ironically, a large share of engineering students at U.S. universities are international students, who might be discouraged from coming to the U.S. by the current administration’s policies and rhetoric on immigration.”

Professor Dedrick is available to speak with the media on this issue. Please contact J.D. Ross, director of communications at the iSchool, at rossjd@syr.edu or 315.443.3094.

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

Ellen Mbuqe

  • Jason Dedrick

  • Recent
  • Eight New Recruits Begin Campus Peace Officer Academy
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By Christine Weber
  • Media Tip Sheet: Consequences of China Lockdown
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By Vanessa Marquette
  • Dean Rajiv ‘Raj’ Dewan to Step Down as Dean of the School of Information Studies
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By News Staff
  • 2022 Graduates Reflect on Service as Academic Coaches
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By Ellen de Graffenreid
  • Funding Expands for Newhouse Professors’ Work on Technology to Combat Fake News
    Wednesday, May 18, 2022, By Wendy S. Loughlin

More In Business & Economy

Rabia Razzaq G’23 Wins 2022 Intelligence++ Inclusive Design Competition

Rabia Razzaq G’23, a multidisciplinary designer and graduate student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, won the 2022 Intelligence++ Showcase Competition, held in the Whitman School of Management on April 26. The interdisciplinary competition—which encourages design and business…

Whitman School Receives STEM-Designation for Master’s in Professional Accounting Program

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s master’s in professional accounting program has received STEM-designation. The class of 2022 will be the first to graduate with this new STEM certification. “We have made notable innovations to our master’s in professional…

Whitman’s Full-Time MBA Program Achieves Highest U.S. News Ranking Since 1998

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University is now ranked No. 57 in the nation for its full-time MBA program by U.S. News & World Report. This is the highest ranking for the Whitman School since 1998…

Stocks and Finance Immersion Offers A&S | Maxwell Students a Window Into Finance

When Jehan Muhialdain ’22 moved to the United States from Iraq five years ago, one of the major differences she noticed in her new country was the focus put on financial literacy and wealth management. She says living in Iraq,…

Applications Open for RvD iPrize and Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Competitions

The School of Information Studies (iSchool) with support from the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries (LaunchPad) are now accepting applications through March 15 for the Raymond von Dran (RvD) iPrize pitch competition and the Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2022 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.