[tsungxu]

I think the shift to centralized production is not necessarily permanent.

Energy generation is decentralizing again. We can make more and more manufacturing feedstocks (metals, H2, CO2, biomolecules) using more modular processes that can also be decentralized.

[jeffreyrogers]

Energy generation isn't really decentralizing in a meaningful way. Sure individuals can have their own solar panels or wind turbines (and for many people this makes sense), but the most efficient renewable projects are big centralized projects that take up a lot of land area. I believe it will always be that way for economy of scale reasons. This also means that large electricity consumers who can position themselves near cheap sources of electricity will have a cost advantage, which again increases the returns to centralized manufacturing.