Reshoring strategies in the wake of globalization and pandemics: trends, drivers, and implications.

In recent decades, offshoring, driven by globalization and cost-saving considerations, has led many companies to relocate their manufacturing operations to distant shores. While beneficial in terms of reducing production costs and increasing market access, this strategy has also exposed businesses to vulnerabilities that became evident during the unprecedented disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, relocating manufacturing or business operations back to the home country has gained increasing attention as companies reassess their global supply chain strategies. This thesis comprehensively analyzes reshoring trends, drivers, and implications, drawing on existing literature and empirical data. The study examines the factors motivating companies to reshore, the industries most affected, and the potential economic, social, and environmental outcomes of this strategic shift. Furthermore, the thesis offers insights into the challenges and opportunities that reshoring presents for businesses, policymakers, and local communities. Lastly, this thesis will also provide a method for evaluating and measuring reshoring.