Is This The End of the American Century?

This site features updates, analysis, discussion and comments related to the theme of my book published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2008 (hardbound) and 2009 (paperbound).

The Book

The End of the American Century documents the interrelated dimensions of American social, economic, political and international decline, marking the end of a period of economic affluence and world dominance that began with World War II. The war on terror and the Iraq War exacerbated American domestic weakness and malaise, and its image and stature in the world community. Dynamic economic and political powers like China and the European Union are steadily challenging and eroding US global influence. This global shift will require substantial adjustments for U.S. citizens and leaders alike.

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Economic Inequality Put an End to the American Century

The biggest impediment to U.S recovery is economic inequality. This is the central argument in my article "The U.S. No Longer Makes the Grade: Economic Inequality Put an End to the 'American Century"" in the Phi Kappa Phi Forum, vol. 92, No. 3.  This article is available at Butler's "Digital Commons" site by clicking here.  The footnotes for the article are temporarily available at the Forum's website at this link.

Correction:  There is an important typo on page 7, column 1, 2nd paragraph.  The sentence there should read as follows:

"A recent global study by the International Monetary Fund, for example, found that countries with strong economic growth tended to have greater income equality than those with weak growth...."

 Comments and (civil!) discourse on this piece are welcome.

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3 comments:

David S. Mason said...

Economic growth and equality

Several sharp-eyed readers noted a typo on p.7 (2nd paragraph of 1st column), which refers to the International Monetary Fund study finding that "countries with strong economic growth tended to have greater income INequality than those with weak growth..." It should read: "greater income EQUALITY.."

Anonymous said...

People are fearful of nuclear and that fear is crippling our economic and scientific advancements. For example President Clinton in 1994 cancelled two very important nuclear R&D projects that were nearly finished and could have put the US in a lead role in nuclear sciences and energy. One of the projects was the super conducting super collider project in Texas. Cancelling this project has lead to a brain drain in nuclear physical sciences to Europe. The other nuclear project President Clinton cancelled was a secret advanced nuclear reactor design. This secret project could have made the US energy independent, solved the nuclear waste problem, and would have greatly helped reduce the CO2 problem. An excellent accounting of the history of the cancelled secret IFR nuclear project is given at this web site: http://www.truthaboutenergy.com/argonne.html.

David S. Mason said...

Donna Swaner offered this comment:

Your recent feature article in Phi Kappa Phi Forum magazine has been like a fresh breath of air and a drink of clean water at the same time to my listless mind's understanding and acceptance of our nation's downward decline in the world. Thank you with all my heart for so meticulously and expeditiously explaining the many facets of our economic demise and blending them all together and easing the pain in my heart.

I am a 61 year old female, at age 58 I returned to University to complete a M.Ed. degree after years previously acquiring an undergraduate degree in English and Political Science. My desire is to teach English at the middle or high school level. Now, 11/2 years later I have not been successful in securing a permanent job that supports me so that I can begin repayment on my student loan debt which is owned by the US Government. This is a good example of a middle class single-white female trying to improve her quality of life through education and giving back to our country's youth, our future citizens; but, at the same time, I am taking away from both the youth and our economic system. Do you offer any advice to me? Thank you for your great writing, please keep writing.