Governments worldwide seem locked in a race to pour capital into manufacturing infrastructure. Yet beneath this policy enthusiasm lies a flawed assumption: that sheer factory capacity alone drives prosperity. The reality? This factory-first mentality ignores deeper economic shifts and could ultimately backfire. What actually matters isn't just building production—it's whether markets can absorb output, whether supply chains function efficiently, and whether capital allocation reflects genuine economic needs. When politicians chase factory headlines while missing market fundamentals, the results often disappoint.