Opportunities for Discussion

1. What factors account for U.S. economic growth in the post-World War II period?

2. Why should we care whether the average growth rate is 3 or 2.5 percent?

3. Why do economists focus so much attention on productivity?

4. Can economists account for the growth in productivity through traditional factors? Why or why not?

5. What explains the slowdown in U.S. productivity growth? Should we care?

6. Do we expect to be as well off as our parents?