The manufacturing sector is a significant part of the global economy and accounts for nearly 16% of the worldwide GDP. As a result, governments across countries focus primarily on encouraging the manufacturing sector. Specific initiatives in emerging economies promote the manufacturing industry, including Made in China and Made in India, but the effects of the manufacturing industry on the economy and the environment. Let us discuss the two aspects individually to understand the impact of the manufacturing sector.
Environmental Effects of Manufacturing
The question should be how factories affect the environment, but there is no question that factories significantly damage the environment. It has been claimed that factories are responsible for 2/3rd of the pollution in the background.
As a result, dangerous materials and toxic waste deteriorate the environment, threatening the ecosystem and people’s health. Countries that make consumer goods or produce raw materials will be affected environmentally by old-fashioned behaviors—making garments and getting rid of waste into the rivers that kill the fish, rivers getting green algae, and impacting the lives of people living around the rivers.
Industrial factories play a big part in the air pollution that we, as global citizens, must endure. The toxic gases released into the air, combined with those released through automobiles or roads, mean an increased risk of developing chronic respiratory, heart disease, lung cancer, and many other illnesses. Air pollution also affects wildlife, which could make many species extinct.
Factories also cause water pollution, which deteriorates life underwater. Illegal dumping of contaminated gases, heavy metals, waste, radioactive material, and chemicals into rivers and seas causes damage to marine life and deteriorates the environment. Not all factories are responsible for water pollution, but those in less regulated parts of the world tend to dump their toxic waste into rivers as it is cheaper.
Finally, soil pollution pollutes the earth’s soil as industrial waste is thrown into landfills. These toxic materials and chemicals destroy the soil’s fertility, decrease crop productivity, and contaminate food consumed by millions of people worldwide.
Economic Effects of Manufacturing
Manufacturing has many important links with other sectors throughout the economy. Therefore, its impact stimulates economic activity more than other sectors. Studies suggest that manufacturing industries have a multiplier effect: positive developments have exponential returns, and harmful activities have an overall deterioration.
The manufacturing industry also employs 10% of the global workforce, providing jobs to people at all professional levels. 21st-century productivity and automation gains prevent manufacturing employment as a percentage of total work from approaching the halcyon days of the 50s.
According to the sectoral multiplier effect, companies and industries are known for giving the economy the biggest bang for the buck. Every dollar output by this sector generates a particular economic activity across society. Purchasing and sales transactions lead to the direct and indirect need for resources and employment, which benefit other facets of society.
Because manufacturing has many important links, as mentioned earlier. That is one of the significant reasons manufacturers play a critical role in a country’s economic growth. As the factory outputs increase, it requires more inputs from utilities, mining, and suppliers, creating jobs and other opportunities in other sectors that use its products. The manufacturing industry has strong connections with retail, construction, and transportation. It also spurs growth in services such as transportation and finance.
Based on an earlier projection in 2021 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the annual input-output tables have estimated that a dollar worth of final demand for manufacturers generates $1.48 in other services and products. It is higher than any other sector in the business industry. The wholesale and retail sectors have lower multipliers, generating 54 and 58 cents, respectively, in other additional inputs for every dollar of economic activity they generate.
All in All
The manufacturing sector has a huge role to play not only in the economy but also in our well-being as a society. I hope you now better understand how the manufacturing sector contributes to economic development and growth.
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