Electronics Industry, Geography of

The electronics industry manufactures the suite of information and communications technologies that harness the processing capacity of semiconductors, or microchips. In practical terms, the core set of electronics industries includes chip design and fabrication, computers, consumer electronics, and communications equipment (e.g., cell phones). The boundaries of the sector could reasonably be drawn to include a range of associated industries such as advanced computer-numeric controlled machinery producers or robotics (though not software) industries that rely substantially on electronic engineering. Advances in electronics have had a pervasive impact on virtually all facets of economic activity over the past 50 years. Given this almost singular importance, the industry has proven especially crucial in driving regional development in the places where it locates. The following paragraphs discuss the industry's ...