1/1/11

So What If We're Not No.1 Anymore

Given the fact that the populations of China and India are respectively 4.5 and 4.2 larger than that of the U.S.; and that their workers are on average younger and just as well, or perhaps better, educated, then it should not come as a surprise that in the next decade their economies will, as reliable sources predict, surpass that of the U.S. Alarming news for us Americans? Not at all. Dropping from first to third (or fourth--the European Union has already surpassed us) will not necessarily translate into a diminish standard of living or unhappiness for our individual citizens. President Barack Obama’s cheerleading speech about the need to out-produce the rest of the world in every regard, at all costs, in order to stay on top, would only make sense if economics were an Olympic event. But the game to be played here is of a different sort. To win this game we need to improve our act from within, in effect, compete against ourselves, not the world. A healthy, well-employed, prosperous population will keep us on top even if our economy is no longer number one.

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