US

Computer Chips

Question A:

Given the centrality of semiconductors to the manufacturing of many products, securing reliable supplies should be a key strategic objective of national policy.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question B:

Restrictions on exports of semiconductors and related high-tech equipment to China will substantially improve US technological leadership.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question A Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Strategic issues are absent from standard trade discussions. In reality such motives are important, esp. in the presence of international conflict. Strategic considerations are likely important for technologies that are central for other sectors, esp. military and communications.
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
The pandemic proved how vulnerable we are to semiconductor shortages. And those were supply chain hiccups, not hostile economic maneuvers by an adversary
Baicker
Katherine Baicker
University of Chicago Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Strongly Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Chetty
Raj Chetty
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Strongly Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Deaton
Angus Deaton
Princeton
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Strongly Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Just going on how disruptive past backlogs were to the US economy and supply chains. If the US needs a Strategic Petroleum Reserver, then presumably it needs a secure supply of chips.
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Finkelstein
Amy Finkelstein
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee
Chicago
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
By
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Hall
Robert Hall
Stanford
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Not entirely clear what the role of government should be. Business has the information and incentive to guard against supply interruptions.
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Strongly Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Access to critical resources is always an important objective for national policy. Chips is the new oil.
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
From a national security perspective perhaps.
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Obstfeld
Maurice Obstfeld
Berkeley
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Saez
Emmanuel Saez
Berkeley
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Subsidizing home production is only one of many ways one might ensure reliable supplies.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
Strongly Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Securing reliable supplies for military purposes is a national strategic objective. Otherwise, this should be a strategic objective of firms.
Stock
James Stock
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History

Question B Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu
MIT
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
There is uncertainty on this. The counterpoint is that China's investments and human resources are important for US technological flourishing. Or that these policies might further trigger Chinese investment for leadership. But on balance the claim is more likely to be correct.
Altonji
Joseph Altonji
Yale
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Auerbach
Alan Auerbach
Berkeley
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Autor
David Autor
MIT
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
It's a serious escalation with uncertain consequences. It will forestall China achieving parity in the short run, but surely not in the long run
Baicker
Katherine Baicker
University of Chicago Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Banerjee
Abhijit Banerjee
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Bertrand
Marianne Bertrand
Chicago
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Brunnermeier
Markus Brunnermeier
Princeton
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Chetty
Raj Chetty
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Chevalier
Judith Chevalier
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Cutler
David Cutler
Harvard
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Deaton
Angus Deaton
Princeton
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Duffie
Darrell Duffie
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Too difficult for me to say.
Edlin
Aaron Edlin
Berkeley
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Eichengreen
Barry Eichengreen
Berkeley
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Einav
Liran Einav
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Fair
Ray Fair
Yale
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Finkelstein
Amy Finkelstein
MIT Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Goldberg
Pinelopi Goldberg
Yale
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee
Chicago
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Greenstone
Michael Greenstone
University of Chicago
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Hall
Robert Hall
Stanford
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Seems to impute a substantial degree of competence to a government that is fond of shooting itself in the foot.
Hart
Oliver Hart
Harvard
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Holmström
Bengt Holmström
MIT
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
It will obviously slow down China, but I'm not sure it will improve US leadership in the longer run.
Hoxby
Caroline Hoxby
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Hoynes
Hilary Hoynes
Berkeley
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
Judd
Kenneth Judd
Stanford
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
The new US restrictions imposes costs on Western companies (e.g., the Dutch company AMS) that export technology to China. This can only work if Western nations cooperate. They should cooperate to protect the tech position of the West.
-see background information here
Kaplan
Steven Kaplan
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Kashyap
Anil Kashyap
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Klenow
Pete Klenow
Stanford
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Levin
Jonathan Levin
Stanford
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Maskin
Eric Maskin
Harvard
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Nordhaus
William Nordhaus
Yale
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Obstfeld
Maurice Obstfeld
Berkeley
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Saez
Emmanuel Saez
Berkeley
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Samuelson
Larry Samuelson
Yale
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Exports are but one of many channels of technology transfer; it is unclear how much restricting exports alone will accomplish.
Scheinkman
José Scheinkman
Columbia University
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Schmalensee
Richard Schmalensee
MIT
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
In the short run, probably; in the long run, less clear.
Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Berkeley
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Shimer
Robert Shimer
University of Chicago
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Borders are porous
Stock
James Stock
Harvard Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Thaler
Richard Thaler
Chicago Booth
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Udry
Christopher Udry
Northwestern Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History