How Malcolm McLean Disrupted the Global Shipping Industry | Bookmarked 1 with Marc Levinson

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On this episode, Marc Levinson explores the history and impact of containerization on the global economy. He begins with an introduction to the topic and the motivation behind writing his book 'The Box'. The discussion then delves into the state of international trade before the advent of containers and the challenges faced by dock workers. The role of regulation and the ICC in shaping the industry is also explored. The conversation highlights the story of Malcolm McLean and his pivotal role in the birth of containerization. The impact on small shipping towns, the unintended consequences, and the expansion and standardization of containers are also discussed. Finally, the conversation explores the lessons learned from container standardization, the impact of container shipping on Asia and American economies, the reversal of ship sizes, technological innovations in the shipping industry, potential threats to the shipping industry, and the development of the container shipping industry.