U.S. Competitiveness Crisis: Myth or Reality?
Abstract
For nearly fifty years all of America's vast resources were directed toward one purpose; containing the Soviet Union. As dramatic changes loomed over the horizon, we began looking at how to restructure our military component of national power to cope with the changing global environment. People argue that the most important measure of a nation's basic power potential is now economic health, i.e., competitiveness. The other two tenets of national power, political, and military, intertwine with economics to a large degree. So, who owns the twenty-first century? This is a question being debated in economic circles virtually every day. Some classify the U.S. as a world-class laggard in world competitiveness. 'The U.S. is in decline,' they say. But are we truly economic has-beens? Some think not. The quantity of pro and con economic statistics clearly gives a muddied impression. This paper examines U.S. economic competitiveness from both views, i.e., a half-full and a half-empty perspective. America's ability to sustain a global role and maintain its own security is predicated on economic vitality. We remain the envy of the world and our dominance, although tarnished by those who espouse it 'decline speak' is nevertheless solid.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA263615
Entities
People
- William E. Mortensen
Organizations
- United States Army War College