Matthew Slaughter

America in 2014 finds itself in a period of relative economic calm: five years beyond the trough of the financial crisis and about five years before the fiscal and economic pressures of our aging society are projected to accelerate. Thus is there a window of opportunity today to enact policies to support a stronger economy. For the large majority of American workers and their families, what would a stronger economy entail? More jobs and rising incomes linked to the dynamic global economy— in a way that recently has not been happening as it did over much of the 20th century. Thus there is a chance to expand workers’ opportunity today. Will business and policy leaders seize this opportunity? Whether the United States does so will carry dramatic implications for America's future vitality. Slaughter frames the issue, and discusses the possibility and probability of seizing it in non-partisan ways.