The end of a year brings a certain degree of gloom. That’s certainly warranted in the various cases of foundries and diecasting plants that will not be around in 2010: happily, there are some of revivals to come in the near future, and there remains some admirable fortitude about the future prospects.

The metalcasting story is an important one, but the bigger picture — of global economics and manufacturers’ confidence about the future — is increasingly relevant because the U.S. or North American market does not appear to have enough of its own momentum to lift domestic industrial activity. If there is to be a revival of domestic manufacturing in 2010, it seems that it is going to depend on global demand.

Alan Tonelson, the researcher and author whose expertise in global economics is well regarded and well earned, has a timely column today, casting a long-term perspective on the past year’s manufacturing decline. He and I disagree over policies for dealing with these issues (he’s a stronger proponent of tariffs than I am), but his insight to this problem is worth more serious consideration by those responsible for our national economic policies. His column makes it clear that decades of cost cutting and productivity enhancements have accomplished most of the improvements that can be expected for U.S. manufacturers until sustained industrial and consumer demand restore some vitality to the overall economy.