Among educated people there is a division of opinion about our economic future. Most believe that today's prosperity will continue indefinitely. A few see calamity around the next corner. These are questions to be explored in this book.
Government agencies release findings only on questions that are politically acceptable.
Politicians cannot be believed because they will not be elected if they tell unpleasant truths. Professional prognosticators, who dwell in think tanks and claim to provide scholarly, unbiased opinions, ordinarily must tailor their findings to please their patrons or the clientele they serve. No one will pay for bad news of more than temporary duration. Long-range predictions beyond the next presidential election must always be favorable if funding is to continue. News media are not much help in revealing the future.