This collection of essays investigates the underlying causes of the slowdown in U.S. productivity and proposes actionable strategies to restore national economic competitiveness. The authors, Kenneth McLennan and William J. Baumol, collaborate with the Committee for Economic Development to synthesize empirical data regarding industrial output and economic efficiency. By examining historical trends and international benchmarks, the text provides a structured framework for understanding the structural challenges facing the American economy during the period of analysis.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the discourse on mid-to-late 20th-century economic policy. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which serves as a foundational resource for students and practitioners of economic development.