The Jones Act, shipyard costs, and skilled workers

What are the main pros and cons of the Jones Act?

Alex supports the law's general approach to sustaining American yards, while acknowledging implementation problems and calling for some provisions to be updated.

Alex supports the Jones Act's general approach while identifying problems with its implementation and provisions that he thinks need updating. His argument concerns American shipyards' competition for skilled workers as well as competition with other yards. Railroads and oil businesses can have greater turnover and therefore more money available for pay, whereas shipyards depend on the pace of individual construction projects. He argues that improved building methods are often offset by more complicated ships, limiting the gain in construction speed.