This paper is a short essay that summarizes the sometimes uncomfortable "facts of life" about growth. It describes the structure behind, and "solutions" to address, our complaints about growth. It covers the interacting effects of tax policy, infrastructure backlogs, Federal Reserve interest rate policy and also how "The Attractiveness Principle" & "Escalation" systems thinking archetypes affect growth.

Double-column version (6 pages, 112K) Link (best to print)
Single-column version (7 pages, 111K) Link (easiest to read on line)

One reader's comment:
"Finally, let me just say this is a brilliant piece of work.  I love it.
Nicely done.  If only we didn't live in a sound-bite world!"

This relatively short paper is based on the thorough treatment in The Tangle of Growth.

Because Fed policy allows only so many jobs to be created, it's a zero-sum game for states to compete by giving incentives to companies to get them to locate in their state. Art Rolnick, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, also points out that Congress Should End the Economic War Among the States. His recommendation instead? Invest in Early Childhood Development on a Large Scale for a better return on investment.

See The State of Colorado Employment for graphs based on more recent data showing that more rapid regional growth does not result in a change in unemployment. Also see There's no "free market" for Labor.