@necrevistonnezr I have a friend who worked in the semiconductor industry in the U.S. This has been a several decade process of exiting chip manufacturing, especially "commodity" chips like memory. Memory chip manufacturers experienced boom/bust cycles tied to chasing demand, building factories, only to find them empty after demand stabilized. In my opinion, their assessment today to jack up prices and build nothing is the result of their past experiences.
Unfortunately through intense regulation (many would argue appropriate regulation), other countries have taken a more laissez faire attitude about making semiconductors and have reaped the economic benefit. But many of the chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing are endocrine disruptors, highly toxic in other ways and generally difficult to protect production workers.
But that (and enormous capital costs) may explain why America and Europe were less interested in producing chips. Again, "short-term, earnings this year above all else, share buyback" mentality that seems to prevail in Western economies justifies a "buy" instead of "make" strategy.
