# Is America in Decline?

Source: https://hbr.org/1992/07/is-america-in-decline

## Summary

America, once celebrated for its irrepressible optimism, now appears preoccupied with decline. The complaints cited include falling real wages, slowing productivity growth, companies losing competitiveness in global markets, insecure white-collar jobs, collapsing infrastructure, a soaring federal deficit, a deteriorating health system, unsafe cities, failing schools, and a widening gap between rich and poor. Harvard Business Review published a version in its July–August 1992 issue.

## Article

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Strange as it may seem, a nation once celebrated for its irrepressible optimism now appears to be obsessed by decline. America’s list of complaints seems endless: Real wages are falling. Productivity growth is down. Companies aren’t competitive in global markets. White-collar jobs are no longer secure. The nation’s infrastructure is collapsing. The federal deficit is soaring. The health system is deteriorating. The cities are unsafe. The schools are failing. The gap between rich and poor is widening.

A version of this article appeared in the July–August 1992 issue of Harvard Business Review.