We have been trying to keep up with the very robust public conversation among economists about the state of manufacturing in the US.  Ever since the president made a push for increased productivity in the manufacturing sector during the State of the Union, there has been no shortage of opinions, and, thankfully, analysis of the potential for manufacturing to be a significant part of the recovery.  Yesterday, the Brookings Institution held a panel discussion titled Why—and Which—Manufacturing Matters: Innovation and Production in the United States.  It was a thoughtful and informative--albeit wonky--presentation.

Susan Helper was one of the participants.  In this excerpt, Helper, professor of economics at Case Western Reserve University, speaks to how a successful marketing strategy features coordination of investment and creates both supply and demand:

Here is the full panel discussion: