Struggles of economy from the policy overlooking

Struggles of economy from the policy overlooking

We shouldn't mistake change for decline; change will often provide a cushion to an adjusting American economy.But let's not be pollyannish. There are new challenges facing America. Inequality is one, and particularly the aspects of it associated with stagnation in median incomes. Some of this is an American problem; most of it is due to technological change and globalisation and their interaction. It is difficult to see how these industry trends will play out in coming years; potentially they will grow worse. The trajectory of politics does not lead me to believe that it is a problem that is likely to be ignored. But certainly it is cause for concern. It's worth asking, however, whether inequality is more dangerous than inequality in, say, China or India or Latin America.

Polarisation and paralysis in Washington is another new and troubling phenomenon. Politics in Washington has nearly always been nasty and partisan, but there has been a meaningful change in the operation of the Congress. In particular, parties have become more polarised at the same time that party leaders have become more willing to use the tools available to the minority to block Congressional action. This is a problem. Yet at the same time, America's federal political system looks much less brittle than the euro zone's or China's.

Contrary to what Mr Luce occasionally implies, these issues, and other worries as well, are not being ignored or greeted with complacency. They are very much on the public's radar; Americans will talk your ear off about underinvestment in infrastructure, big deficits, the struggles of the middle class. Politicians will too. There are also active efforts to fix many of these problems underway. State and local governments are becoming increasingly willing to experiment with creative new funding mechanisms for infrastructure. As Mr Luce details, there is enormous interest in education reform across the country. Results have been mixed so far, but the data-gathering effort is substantial and should eventually yield real progress. Universities are increasingly willing to experiment with online courses. Institutions are responding.

There are many things I wish America did better, but one thing that is often underappreciated about the place is its remarkable economic and institutional flexibility. When Michigan's economy implodes, that's bad—but people find it remarkably easy to pack up and move to sunnier climes. When Congress can scarcely keep the money for highway repair flowing, the city of Chicago pioneers new public-private sources of infrastructure finance. America's federal government is often a wreck. Luckily, America's success isn't driven almost entirely by the choices and actions of the federal government. China's success is really remarkable in so many ways, especially in heavy machinery industry, and I don't pretend there is nothing America can learn from its success.