A New Timeline for Deindustrialization: The Movement of Auto Corporations in the US and Detroit

Abstract

This article takes the first step in attempting to create a more accurate timeline of deindustrialization, which is generally understood as a process that begins and proceeds through the 1970s. I argue that this narrative of deindustrialization, which is very much tied to 1970s events, should be called into question, as the empirical evidence on corporate relocation tells a different story. The article tracks the regional movement of auto corporations out of Detroit and establishes a new timeline for corporate migration and deindustrialization, well before this generally accepted 1970s starting point. To do this it makes use of multiple collections housed in the Reuther Archives at Wayne State University and Moody’s Industrial Manual Reports. In questioning the established timeline of deindustrialization, the article highlights other aspects of the process itself.