i4.0, 3D printing, deglobalisation and new manufacturing clusters: The view from Australia

Al Rainnie

The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 2021, vol. 32, issue 1, 115-133

Abstract: Before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted onto the world stage, a new narrative was apparently beginning to emerge about the impact of i4.0 and new technologies in general, and three-dimensional printing in particular, on the future of work and employment. This was to have particular geographical implications for the manufacturing sector in particular. Proponents of i4.0 also suggested that this process, particularly in manufacturing, would promote the re-emergence of patterns of clustering. Developments in advanced manufacturing, particularly three-dimensional printing, would accelerate and reinforce these tendencies. This article looks at the role that three-dimensional printing is supposed to play in the new world, and in particular, critically evaluates its role in reinforcing the trend towards deglobalisation on the one hand, and, on the other, new clusters of manufacturing industry. JEL code: O33

Keywords: Advanced manufacturing; fourth industrial revolution; i4.0; manufacturing clusters; nearshoring; new technologies; platform capitalism; three-dimensional printing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:32:y:2021:i:1:p:115-133

DOI: 10.1177/1035304620981429

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