America in Global 90's

The 1980s bestseller lists often feature books predicting economic disaster just around the corner. These two respected observers of the American economy weigh in here with a refreshing and persuasive antidote to the doomsayers. First they smash some common misconceptions: U.S. productivity is still the highest in the world; American living standards have increased over the last 20 years, not declined; foreign investment is beneficial, not harmful; and the federal budget deficit is in the same range as most other industrial democracies. Arguing that the U.S. economy remains the strongest in the world, the authors predict solid long-term growth in the '90s, with higher U.S. productivity, increased savings, lower trade and budget deficits, lower interest rates and expanding worldwide trade. Not all is sunny--Third World debts will have to be written off by U.S. banks and energy prices will increase--but the overall economic picture is bright. The concluding chapter offers decidedly unglamorous, but sound, investment advice based on the authors' forecasts. The book deserves a wide audience. 300,000 first printing; author tour. (Sept.)