Final answer:
For-hire logistics expenditures in the United States have quadrupled due to advances in transportation, innovations in computing and telecommunications, expanded consumer culture, and increased international trade and material flows.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quadrupling of for-hire logistics expenditures over the past thirty years in the United States can primarily be attributed to three factors associated with globalization. Firstly, advances in transportation such as shipping containerization and air cargo have drastically reduced the costs of moving goods globally, leading to increased use of logistics services. Secondly, technological innovations in computing and telecommunications have enabled more efficient long-distance economic activity, necessitating heightened logistics services for production and sales. Lastly, international trade has been facilitated by a reduction in trade barriers and the formation of agreements, contributing to a significantly expanded flow of goods that require logistical support.
Furthermore, the expansion of consumer culture and increased material flows due to consumer demand have also contributed to the growth in logistics expenditures. The mechanization of industry and agriculture, alongside developments in technology fueled by fossil fuels, has revolutionized industries, creating vast networks of supply chains that rely heavily on logistics. Additionally, the sheer size of the human population and its consumption needs have resulted in material flows that surpass natural occurrences, increasing the reliance on logistics to manage these flows.