Abstract
Demanufacturing is the disassembly and recycling of obsolete consumer products such as TV sets, personal computers, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. The basic argument of this article is that demanufacturing is an industry that will thrive in urban areas, because inner cities have a unique set of resources that provide competitive advantage to demanufacturing companies. This article also argues that demanufacturing can have a significant impact on economic development in our urban centers by creating large numbers of jobs for unskilled and semiskilled workers. A model is suggested for the development of this industry and identifies some of the challenges the industry faces, as well as solutions that can be implemented by state, local, and federal officials.
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