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Comment by nradov | Hacker News Reader

How is that a "problem"? What is preventing other countries from building tech winners? The USA isn't launching missiles to destroy the next foreign Nvidia or Meta competitor.

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You could just as well ask what is preventing every other state in the US from building tech winners.

What is preventing every other state in the US from building tech winners? The majority of large tech companies are headquartered in CA and there are a few others in WA, TX, NY, and ID. There used to be quite a few in MA and even FL was in the running for a while. What caused them to fall behind within a few decades, while other states never really got started? Some are hopelessly handicapped by horrible geography or low population density but others like CT or IL would appear to have all the necessary ingredients.

CT and IL are both high tax liability states with cold weather and not many attractive geographic features.

That doesn't really explain anything. CA is also a high tax state. CT has similar climate and geography to MA, which was once a technology leader but later fell behind. There must be other, more important differentiating factors.

California has a Mediterranean climate with world class outdoor features and the freshest foods. They also ban all non competes, and have a solid history of pumping out valuable tech companies. They can afford to have taxes others can’t.

Connecticut also lacks a big city with a big airport.

Nothing, but having the world’s largest free trade and migrations zone means that it’s not economically efficient. Centralising industries produces large benefits in efficiency and hiring. We only don’t see it as much on a global scale because of trade and migration restrictions.

I don't know about missiles, but there's no lack of sanctions.

Which sanctions?

China is prevented from buying advanced EUV lithography, advanced Nvidia chips and as of monday RAM memories made with American tech.

And what's preventing China from building their own EUV lithography? They can do whatever they want internally regardless of US sanctions. It seems like they're not trying very hard, or are wasting resources on unproductive initiatives.

There's only a single company ASML that does, so this is a global technological challenge.

Sure, I'm aware of that but so what? US sanctions can't prevent China from building their own EUV lithography independent of ASML. Why are they still so backwards?

Without being glib... It is hard. And they will be able to do so relatively soon because though it is hard there is now an immense need to do so.

Not sure what are you trying to get to.

Of course they are also investing in their lithography equipment, but still, it's an insanely complex set of tools and know-how required that's backed by countless patents and well kept secrets.

Only because China is threatening to take over the country producing those chips and seizing territory in the South China Sea in violation of international law.

If China played nice with America.. there's no problem.

I don't think it's a problem. What's preventing other countries from building something similar to the US tech companies is a combination of regulation and culture.

Is that so? What's the best American drone company again? Consumer ones, not the MQ-9 Reaper type.

Toys? Not a priority. RCAT is the best American drone company. I won't disagree communists can produce efficiently, but that comes with a culture that guns down their own like the protesters in Tiananmen square.

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