New study shows Apple can make the iPhone at home

New research from the Center for Research on Socio-Culture Change (Cresc) finds that US-based production of the iPhone would still be profitable for Apple.

Apple, which sold 35 million iPhones in the second quarter of this year, saw their net income double over the prior year. Apple's market value of $559 billion makes it the most highly valued corporation in the world.

According to Cresc's research, the I-phone, currently made and assembled in China, costs $178.45 to produce, and sells for $630, netting Apple $452 on each phone, with a profit margin of 72%. Based on an average $21/hour wage, the research center calculates that US-based production would cost $337, netting Apple a 46.5% profit margin.

Cresc's research notes that even with these lower profit margins, Apple would still be the most profitable phone company in the world.

Apple: why doesn't it employ more US workers? (The Guardian, Apr. 23, 2012)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/23/bad-apple-employ-more-us-workers?newsfeed=true 

Apple trumps expectations, sells 35M iPhones in 2Q (Finance.yahoo.com, Apr. 24, 2012)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-trumps-expectations-sells-35m-205259844.html