EMS & The Economist (November 2025) - Shutdown Shockwaves And Smarter Supply Chains

EMS@C-LEVEL · 14 Nov 2025 · 16m

What this episode covers

Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist at the Global Electronics Association, discusses the impact of the longest U.S. government shutdown on industry data and sentiment, noting that while official metrics are stale, book-to-bill ratios remain balanced. He contrasts current AI investment, driven by hyperscalers like Meta, Google, and Amazon with strong cash flows, against past speculative bubbles, identifying electricity availability as the primary constraint on data center growth. DuBravac also details how manufacturers are navigating tariff uncertainty through flexible supply chains, including in-sourcing and leveraging USMCA, while highlighting the transition of autonomous vehicles from a concept to a feasible service model via companies like Waymo.

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