We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain with Peter Goodman

How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain with Peter Goodman

2024/10/9
logo of podcast Smart People Podcast

Smart People Podcast

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
P
Peter S. Goodman
Topics
Peter S. Goodman: 我认为全球供应链是一个非常重要的议题,因为它关系到我们日常生活的方方面面。全球供应链并非一个精心设计的系统,而是一个由许多重叠的、临时拼凑的系统组成的复杂网络。这些系统既受市场力量驱动,也受垄断力量影响,其运作方式甚至连参与者也未必完全了解。 在过去的几十年里,为了追求效率和降低成本,全球供应链变得越来越复杂,越来越依赖于精益化生产和准时制交付。然而,这种模式也使得供应链更加脆弱,更容易受到各种冲击的影响,例如疫情、自然灾害和地缘政治冲突。 股东利益往往凌驾于其他考量之上,例如人权、劳工权利和环境责任。企业为了追求短期利益最大化,往往会忽视供应链的长期风险,削减库存,将生产转移到成本最低的地方,即使这意味着要牺牲其他重要的价值观。 消费者不太可能通过改变购买行为来解决供应链的脆弱性问题,因为他们通常更关注价格而不是供应链的道德和环境影响。 解决供应链脆弱性问题需要合理的监管、劳工动员、反垄断执法以及改变金融激励机制。我们需要确保企业能够在追求利润的同时,也能够承担起其社会责任。 供应链中存在大量的垄断力量,这导致了价格上涨。国际航运业就是一个典型的例子,其缺乏监管的卡特尔性质导致了价格的暴涨。 在疫情期间,由于企业对需求的错误判断,以及“准时制”生产模式的弊端,导致了供应链的大规模中断,从而引发了商品短缺和价格上涨。 为了应对供应链的脆弱性,我们需要采取多种措施,包括加强监管,提高劳工权益,促进市场竞争,以及改变金融激励机制,鼓励企业采取更长远的眼光来管理供应链。 Chris: 在这次访谈中,我主要关注的是供应链的脆弱性以及如何解决这个问题。我询问了Peter Goodman关于供应链的定义、复杂性以及在疫情期间的脆弱性。我还探讨了价格上涨的原因,以及政府刺激措施的影响。最后,我们讨论了解决供应链问题的潜在方案,包括监管、反垄断执法以及劳工权益的改善。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter provides a foundational understanding of the global supply chain, highlighting its complexity and lack of transparency. It explores how the system's intricate nature makes it difficult to trace goods and understand the processes involved, even for those within the industry itself.
  • The global supply chain is a complex network of overlapping systems, some regulated and some not.
  • It involves many layers of suppliers and sub-suppliers, often lacking transparency.
  • The complexity is such that even participants don't fully understand its workings.
  • The system's size and complexity make it difficult to regulate and control.

Shownotes Transcript

How does the wealthiest country on earth run out of protective gear in the middle of a public health catastrophe? How do its parents find themselves unable to locate crucially needed infant formula? How do its largest companies spend billions of dollars making cars that no one can drive for a lack of chips?

The last few years have radically highlighted the intricacy and fragility of the global supply chain. In this episode we speak with award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman about the inner workings of our supply chain and the factors that have led to its constant, dangerous vulnerability.

Peter's book, How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain), is available wherever books are sold.

You can learn more about Peter at petersgoodman.com.)

Support the Show - Become a Patron!

Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast)

Sponsors:

Babbel - Get 60% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com/spp)

**Shopify - **Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/spp)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)