In the second half of the 19th century, the rate of economic growth in the United States averaged over 5% a year for 40 years.To day our Long-term growth rate is less than half that. What has happened and why? What are the preconditions for economic growth? What is the role of saving? The role of production? In the process of answering these questions, Dr. Buechner shows that if a diabolical genius had set out to destroy economic growth in America, he would have initiated exactly the policies we have been following for 100 years.