Whatever happened to Canada US economic growth and productivity performance in the information age Some of the recent “hype” about how advances in technology are forging a “new economy” has evaporated. Interest in “dot.com” start up companies in the US has waned with the decline in stock market valuations. Some of the more extravagant claims – in particular that the “new economy” would see the end to recessions – have been tempered by the recent slowdown in the US economy.