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BPEA | 1995: Microeconomics

The Information-Integrated Channel: A Study of the U.S. Apparel Industry in Transition

Frederick H. Abernathy,
FHA
Frederick H. Abernathy Harvard University
Janice H. Hamond,
JHH
Janice H. Hamond Harvard Business School
David N. Weil, and
DNW
David N. Weil Boston University School of Management
John T. Dunlop
JTD
John T. Dunlop Harvard University
Discussants: Timothy F. Bresnahan and
TFB
Timothy F. Bresnahan Stanford University
B. Peter Pashigian
BPP
B. Peter Pashigian

Microeconomics 1995


THE POPULAR PROGNOSIS for the U.S. apparel industry is bleak. Citing increased import penetration in many product segments and the concurrent erosion of domestic employment, many analysts regard apparel manufacturing in the United States as a dying industry. The Department of Labor concurs, projecting a significant reduction in employment in the domestic apparel industry during the next decade. Under its most optimistic scenario, the department predicts employment will drop from a 1990 level of 839,000 to 649,000 in 2005; under its most pessimistic scenario, employment is projected to fall to 479,000 in 2005.