In practice, the United States has always relied on government to regulate private business, address needs that are not met by free enterprise, serve as a creative economic agent, and ensure some measure of stability to the overall economy. This book also demonstrates that the American economic system has been marked by almost continuous change. As Americans see it, however, the pain also brings substantial gains. Jobs may be lost, but they can be replaced by new ones in industries with greater potential. The decline in jobs in traditional manufacturing industries, for instance, has been offset by rapidly rising employment in high-technology industries such as computers and biotechnology and in rapidly expanding service industries such as health care and computer software.
Economic success breeds other issues, however.
One of the most vexing concerns facing the American public today is growth. Economic growth has been central to America's success. As the economic pie has grown, new generations have had a chance to carve a slice for themselves. Indeed, economic growth and the opportunities it brings have helped keep class friction in the United States at a minimum. In many communities across America, citizens' groups find themselves resisting proposed land developments for fear their quality of life will deteriorate.