This work investigates the structural and economic factors contributing to the decline of American industrial and global competitiveness and proposes strategies for national revitalization. The authors, Richard Bolling and John Bowles, utilize their backgrounds in legislative policy and economic analysis to examine the intersection of government regulation, corporate strategy, and labor productivity. They argue that a lack of cohesive national policy has hindered the country's ability to adapt to changing global market conditions, advocating for a more integrated approach to economic management.

Experts categorize this as a significant historical document reflecting the economic anxieties of its era. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the authors' reliance on legislative records to support their policy recommendations.