WHY THE UNITED STATES IS PERHAPS A SUPERPOWER IN RELATIVE DECLINE

1. THE MAJOR ECONOMIC AND FISCAL CHALLENGES FACING THE UNITED STATES: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EMERGING MARKETSEarl H. Fryearl_fry@byu.eduPresentation at George Mason University24 February 2011

3. WHY THE UNITED STATES IS PERHAPS ASUPERPOWER IN RELATIVE DECLINE (1) The rise of competitor nations and groups of nations (China, EU, etc.); BRICs; few decades ago, China and India considered peripheral players in global economy—a third of humanity (2) The potent combination of (a) globalization; (b) unprecedented technology change; and (c) creative destruction; 2008-627,000 businesses created and 665,000 lost; 2009—25.1 million jobs created, 30.6 million lost (out of total of 154 million civilian labor force 16 years +); Oct 2010—civilian labor participation rate 64.5%--lowest since 1984—”lost decade” for many American households (3) 15 major “fault lines” within the United States

4. AMERICA’S 15 DOMESTIC FAULTLINESBeltway FolliesCampaign FinancingGovernment DebtExternal Debt and Dwindling Importance of the U.S. DollarEntitlement ExplosionHealth CareEducationPlight of the American HouseholdThe New Gilded Age and Wall Street’s DebacleInfrastructure DeteriorationIntergenerational Strife and Festering CleavagesImmigration and the Failure to Attract the Best and the BrightestFederalismGeneral Apathy and a Paucity of Civic EngagementU.S. Foreign Policy

5. GLOBALIZATION, TECHNOLOGY CHANGE, AND CREATIVE DESTRUCTION • The world is not yet flat, but interdependence, interconnectedness, and vulnerability to external influences are solidifying • Rapid technology change is without precedent—doubling information base every 5 years or so • Schumpeter’s creative destruction—simultaneous creation and destruction of businesses and jobs—impact upon nations (Argentina in 1909 world’s 8th highest per capita income—85th in 2008); metro areas (Silicon Valley vs. Detroit), enterprises, and households • Transitions between now and 2050 will be a rollercoaster ride for many of earth’s inhabitants—”fortunes” of nations and households can increase or decrease rapidly

6. Connecting The International To The Local INTERNATIONAL SECTOR sports and entertainment weapons proliferation conflict economics cyberspace terrorism immigration energy religion and ideology environment culture resources crime disease AMERICAN CITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS

7. PINPOINTING DOMESTIC PROBLEMS • A “lost decade”—more private sector jobs beginning 2000 than end 2009; higher poverty rate; larger number of people without health insurance; median household real income lower; threats to 3 major sources of household wealth • Concentration of wealth and growing political influence of wealthy—taxes on hedge-fund managers—pay to play and golden rule—anonymous campaign contributions—DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNANCE • Wall Street debacle—privatization of profits but socialization of losses • Brainpower challenges • Attracting the best and brightest from abroad • Government debt—only 45, 46, and 47 worse as % GDP; fy 2012 proposed budget and Germany

8. AMERICA’S ECONOMIC STRENGTHS • World’s largest national economy • World’s largest trading nation • World’s largest foreign direct investor • World’s major portfolio investor • World’s 3rd most populous nation • World’s 4th largest nation territorially • World’s leader in technological innovation

9. Leader in job creation Very affluent nation with growing marketplace World’s most dynamic and diversified economy 1 of 3 leading nations in resources and energy Very stable political system Very stable economic system Resiliency and adaptation

11. THE UNITED STATES AT MID-CENTURY • Almost 440 million people with over 80% of growth attributable to immigration • Perhaps a “majority minority” country by 2042 • 85% or more will be urbanized, with most growth concentrated in largely self-contained suburbs • U.S. will remain a military superpower • In many other dimensions, U.S. may be a declining superpower in relative terms • What will be the quality of life for the average American?

12. EMERGING MARKETS AND THE UNITED STATES:THE TECTONIC-CHANGE SCENARIO • Western vs. other development models • Decline in influence of the trans-Atlantic region • Economic issues • Political issues • Military issues • Globalization, regionalism, nationalism

13. IMPLICATIONS FOR EMERGING MARKETSIN THE ABSENCE OF TECTONIC CHANGE • Continue to move forward with successful programs • Asia could become an economic superpower • U.S. will continue to be a huge consumer market—trade, investment, supply chain, and tourism linkages—U.S. not simply an importer of raw materials and energy products • Consider free trade agreements with North America • U.S. needs to strengthen North American and hemispheric economic relations • U.S. and emerging markets need to implement “best practices” from home and abroad • Maximize the positive features of globalization and technology transfer—win-win perspectives • Brainpower exchanges

14. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS • The fate of the United States as a superpower will largely be determined by the American people • There are also potential weaknesses in all of the competitor nations and groups of nations • Americans must not succumb to Linus Van Pelt’s lament • RENAISSANCE AMERICA--the plan for renewal can work, but it will require widespread public awareness, commitment to major changes, and a large dose of short-term pain • North American economic cooperation • International relations and U.S.-emerging market relations may change substantially