The American Century
Amidst the steady drip of bad news, it is interesting to get a reminder, every once in a while, about just how strong the American economy is. I am finding that information in a book by George Friedman entitled The Next 100 Years, A Forecast for the 21st Century.
Friedman is predicting that the next 100 years are going to be the American century. In doing so, he reminds us that the US economy is so powerful that it is bigger than the next four economies put together. Here are some other points he makes:
- The US has 4% of the globe’s population but accounts for 26% of all goods and services.
- Surprisingly, (at least to me) the US is still the world’s biggest manufacturing power, yes, exceeding China in production.
- The US has lots of room to grow. It is one of the world’s most under populated countries. (Japan has 338 people per square kilometer, Germany has 230 and the US has 31).
The book is fascinating, not so much for its specific predictions, but for the process Friedman uses in making his them. He does not get pulled off track by the crisis du jour but stays focused on the world’s underpinnings (land, people, and money). So, if you want an interesting read, you may want to read The Next 100 Years.
