Otherwise good WSJ article makes a mistake in the end:
"Less labor regulation and unions in China results less restrictions to automating."
Typically its just the opposite. Japan, ROK, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan are ahead of the US in robotization because there is more regulation, high education, and not enough people. That's why these countries are exporters and have higher manufacturing sector.
Japan (FANUC) had first dark factory in 2001. Netherlands in 2016.
nabla9•2h ago
"Less labor regulation and unions in China results less restrictions to automating."
Typically its just the opposite. Japan, ROK, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan are ahead of the US in robotization because there is more regulation, high education, and not enough people. That's why these countries are exporters and have higher manufacturing sector.
Japan (FANUC) had first dark factory in 2001. Netherlands in 2016.