Does Weaker Consumer Demand Help the U.S. Market?

I'm reading a Bloomberg article entitled 'How Weaker Consumer Demand Could Help the U.S. Economy' by Karl Smith. There is some discussion on 2022 being a stronger year. The article further discusses a decrease in consumer demand and less pressure on wages that decreases inflationary pressure. Its a great article and it got me thinking about wages and investments in innovation. 

The best of both worlds is that those who want to find a good job while at the same time being pushed to develop our wearable technologies, robotics, and other production enhancements. Strong wages and improved productivity can go well together in finding that balance between improving labor's economic share while at the same time being able to draw additional international investment interest. 

Our next national path is likely to be based in our ability to improve on our human capital through education/training and labor enhancements that increase manufacturing diversity and keep costs competitive. Technology and ability can lead to attracting businesses that want to be on the leading edge of manufacturing and have the skilled labor to make it happen. 

I'm thinking about what we would look like as an advanced manufacturing nation (cutting edge products and cheaper mass production regional/allied partners). It would mean highly skilled labor, new investments, new manufacturing technologies and next generation products that eventually move to mass production (Maximizing R&D returns and creating a longer tail for taxes and wages. Thus, improving the ability to reinvest in our infrastructure further to create net positive returns that enhances business growth and international draw.)

Either way, the article is thought provoking and the author does a great job sort of thinking out of the box on these issues. I suspect that if a new variant of COVID doesn't arise to slow us down the pressure could push us to adjust upward in our development as a re-emerging manufacturing powerhouse.  Let us see what 2022 brings us....we are almost there! I think 2023 will be a very interesting year for U.S. business interests.