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A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

economist.com

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Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#21

Post by meri_dian »

vacri wrote: post #10

No mention of an incredibly wealthy continent, both in mineral and agricultural terms (and a temperate climate), that was largely seized by killing the people who owned it and taking their stuff. No mention of the Louisiana Purchase. without which 'Manifest Destiny' would never have occurred, nor the Mexican-American war which added Texas and California, two of the engine-rooms of American wealth today. No mention of…

The fact that the US is separated from a huge chunk of the world by the oceans is tremendously important.

But pretty much all nations and cultures have spread by one group dominating other groups and taking their land. That's a given. What happens after the land is taken and the nation established is more important, which is what this book seems to address.

The US has huge material advantages over other nations, but it has also fostered a powerful innovative culture that is just as important to it's success.

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#22

Post by treehau5 »

skissane wrote: post #9
treehau5 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the EU is the biggest economy in the world Yes, the EU, or otherwise known as that giant land mass consisting of 28 different countries with unique economies. Ironically, trying to treat each member state as some homogeneous member is what is leading to the fracturing and growing nationalism. UK won't be the last to try and break off.

The EU in many ways acts like one big economy due to its customs union, freedom of movement of workers, capital, goods and services, extensive harmonised regulations, partially harmonised taxation, wealth transfers between members, a common currency to a substantial part of it, etc. It is a lot more tightly integrated than some mere 28 member free trade area would be, although still not as tightly integrated as say t…

And still the obvious fact remains: 1 country versus 28 separate countries.

The UK voted to break off. France came dangerously close to heading down that path with Le Pen. Greece's government might not want to, but the people would be on board for the same. Potentially Germany when they get tired of carrying the rest of the EU (especially after UK) on it's back can all leave whenever they want -- they just need to vote on it.

However, If California, for example, tries to succeed, it would be illegal.

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#24

Post by orf »

adwhit wrote: post #19

Given that 400+ years of growth has got us into a position where the likelihood is that the planet will be unable to sustain human life within a few hundred years, I'd be curious to find out what future historians will make of the West's supposedly proud story of progress. In the end, would we all have been better sticking with the Native American way of life? Benjamin Franklin: “When white persons of either sex have…

The native American life wasn't all roses, but there are things we could and should learn from them and other peoples about community and the environment.

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#25

Post by TaylorAlexander »

adwhit wrote: post #19

Given that 400+ years of growth has got us into a position where the likelihood is that the planet will be unable to sustain human life within a few hundred years, I'd be curious to find out what future historians will make of the West's supposedly proud story of progress. In the end, would we all have been better sticking with the Native American way of life? Benjamin Franklin: “When white persons of either sex have…

I write about a possible future where communities of people purchase robots that do most of the work they need for survival, and they otherwise live a simpler non-consumerist life.

I’d like to make this a reality.

http://tlalexander.com/sanctuary/

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#26

Post by [deleted] »

adwhit wrote: post #19

Given that 400+ years of growth has got us into a position where the likelihood is that the planet will be unable to sustain human life within a few hundred years, I'd be curious to find out what future historians will make of the West's supposedly proud story of progress. In the end, would we all have been better sticking with the Native American way of life? Benjamin Franklin: “When white persons of either sex have…

[deleted]

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#27

Post by orf »

meri_dian wrote: post #6
jorvi wrote: post #2

When will this myth stop? Until the UK has left, the EU is the biggest economy in the world, not the US. Edit: damn, hit a painful nerve here apparently. For the tired old '28 countries vs 1 country', America its states and the EU its countries are very comparable in economic size.

The US has the biggest national economy in the world. It has a central government than can wield that economic power for its own purposes. The EU as a singular entity can do relatively little with its members' wealth, which is why measures of that wealth aren't very meaningful. It's like saying that Asia has the biggest economy in the world. Well yeah, but large chunks of that economy are segregated from one another…

> Well yeah, but large chunks of that economy are segregated from one another along national boundaries.

Except with a customs union, shared currency and free movement.

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#28

Post by meri_dian »

adwhit wrote: post #19

Given that 400+ years of growth has got us into a position where the likelihood is that the planet will be unable to sustain human life within a few hundred years, I'd be curious to find out what future historians will make of the West's supposedly proud story of progress. In the end, would we all have been better sticking with the Native American way of life? Benjamin Franklin: “When white persons of either sex have…

We will have transitioned to sustainable energy sources long before the Earth is inhospitable to human life.

Re: A 400-year story of progress – How America became the world’s biggest economy

#30

Post by [deleted] »

pwnage wrote: post #15
skissane wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EU in many ways acts like one big economy due to its customs union, freedom of movement of workers, capital, goods and services, extensive harmonised regulations, partially harmonised taxation, wealth transfers between members, a common currency to a substantial part of it, etc. It is a lot more tightly integrated than some mere 28 member free trade area would be, although still not as tightly integrated as say t…

While everything you said is true, I think the gap in homogeny of economies between the EU and the states of the US is much much larger than you make it sound.

[deleted]
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