America Since 1980

Suppose you had gotten a room full of economists together in 1980, and made the following predictions:  Over the next 28 years the US would grow as fast as Japan, and faster than Europe (in GDP per capita, PPP.) Over the next 28 years Britain would overtake Germany and France in GDP per capita. And you said you were making these predictions because you thought Thatcher and Reagan’s policies would be a success.  Your predictions (and the rationale) would have been met with laughter.