Understanding American Economic Decline

The public has long been painfully aware of the economy’s current stagnation. The contemporary recession has brought to the foreground problems which have been germinating for decades. Falling real wages, slow productivity growth, and the loss of international competitiveness in major industries are all outgrowths of long-term developments that predate the current crisis. As the United States moves from a position of global economic leadership to one of economic interdependence, we need new approaches to explain the dramatic changes in the US economy. This collection of essays, written by leading scholars, presents a systematic analysis of the nation’s economic woes. The authors furnish more than hard-hitting criticisms of the US economy. They provide hope as they offer solutions to America’s most pressing economic problems.