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Will America's Investment in Semiconductor Chips Pay Off?

1A

NPR

News

4.3 β€’ 4.5K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 5 December 2022

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Semiconductor chips are expected to make a huge economic impact – one with geopolitical implications.

They're found in popular electronics like smartphones and gaming consoles and also in cars and military weapons. During the pandemic, disruption to global supply chains created an alarming shortage of them in the U.S.

To reduce reliance on China's manufacturing, the Biden Administration passed the CHIPS Act. It allocates $52 billion dollars to build up America's semiconductor industry.

We discuss the CHIPS Act, and how the money will be used. With all the layoffs in the tech industry, will the investment actually be worth it?

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Today, we're going to be talking about the new semiconductor chip plant.

0:07.6

Tomorrow, President Biden is making his way to Phoenix, Arizona, where a new semiconductor

0:12.3

chip plant is being built.

0:14.4

During the pandemic, disruption to global supply chains created an alarming chip shortage

0:18.9

in the U.S.

0:20.1

Alarming because these chips are found in everything, from smartphones and gaming consoles, to cars

0:26.2

and weapons.

0:27.5

Some estimates project the semiconductor industry will be worth more than a trillion dollars

0:31.8

in less than ten years.

0:34.1

Earlier this year, the Biden administration passed the CHIPS Act.

0:37.9

Among other things, the legislation ear marks at least $52 billion in subsidies to build

0:43.2

up our semiconductor industry.

0:45.1

It also sets aside roughly $100 billion in research spending over the next five years.

0:50.8

These tiny chips are expected to make a huge economic impact, one with geopolitical implications,

0:57.0

while America's investment be worth it.

0:59.7

After the break, we talk about that question and more.

1:02.2

I'm Jen White.

1:03.2

You're listening to the 1A podcast where we get to the heart of the story.

1:07.0

Stay with us.

1:11.6

This message comes from NPR sponsor SmartWool.

1:14.6

Our greatest adventures can't be gift-rapped, but the SmartWool gear that makes them possible

1:19.8

can.

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