[whimsicalism]

> The US has modest corporate taxes, a good business regulatory environment, amazing capital markets,

Yep!

> ports that can easily get you to Asia/Europe/Latin America, consumers,

Yep!

> and labor

Nope. Labor costs in the US are ridiculous and make it non-economical for most consumer manufacturing. This is why real output remains low and we are exploring 'friend-shoring.'

[andyferris]

Well… I believe labor in the US is cheaper than Australia, NZ, UK, and most of the EU. (I’m not sure about Japan). Basically all comparable countries in terms of wealth. So that’s something?

[xxpor]

There's 0 chance US labor is cheaper than the UK at this point.

US: >Real median household income was $74,580 in 2022

UK: >In the financial year ending (FYE) 2022, median household income in the UK before taxes and benefits was £35,000, increasing to £38,100 after taxes and benefits.

[rendang]

NZ is even lower per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w... so unless there is a big difference in the manufacturing sector specifically, it's probably also cheaper there

[HPsquared]

That combined with the house prices... ouch.

[andyferris]

Wait - the median income in the UK is higher AFTER tax is removed? The median person receives more benefits than pay tax?

[pjc50]

Something not quite right there, because at £35,000 you're not eligible for that many benefits. Unless this is somehow miscounting pensioners?

[oblio]

US labor is in no way, shape or form cheaper than EU labor, even with the higher taxes in the EU. Have you checked the average or median salary in the US and Germany, France, Spain, let alone any Eastern European country?

[wodenokoto]

None of which are the UK, Australia or NZ.

[oblio]

> and most of the EU.

...

[ponector]

Tesla pays 20-30$ per hour. Is it ridiculous and non-economical?

[faeriechangling]

There is Canada/Mexico for labour if you just want to get things on the same continent which still protects the US from supply chain shocks somewhat.