4/16/26
Joel Dodge explores how public factories could support production of critical energy components such as next-generation batteries and transformers.
Our Work
Public factories can be powerful means to support production of critical goods. Policymakers at all levels of government have deployed government-owned production facilities throughout American history to produce important goods across defense, steel, agriculture, healthcare, and other sectors. Since the American Revolution, public factories have been used to mobilize for emergencies, secure supply abundance, counter monopoly power, promote innovation, and advance economic development. These public factories have been government-owned and government-operated or leased out for operation by private manufacturers as contractors.
VPA鈥檚 work on public factories shows how this venerable industrial policy tool can be repurposed to meet some of today鈥檚 most pressing economic challenges.
4/16/26
Joel Dodge and Ganesh Sitaraman explore the history, theory, and future of public factories as an industrial policy tool.
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Join our team of scholars, policy experts, and students working on cutting-edge issues in political economy and regulation.