The New Republic

While much has changed since President Coolidge’s famous quote about the business of America, the United States has long been the entrepreneurial light of the world. But that’s changing. READ MORE >>

Yesterday, the World Economic Forum released its annual Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, which compares the ability of 142 economies to produce quality growth.  A far-reaching endeavor, the report compares national economies based on a Global Competitiveness Index, a combination of 12 factors (expressed as 110 indicators) from institutions, infrastructure, and macroeconomic environment to market size, innovation and labor market efficiency. READ MORE >>

Note: This post has been updated to correct an editing error. As President Obama wraps up his bus motorcade today in Western Illinois, he’ll find himself in proximity to one of the few bright spots of a recovery so halting it still feels like a recession: exporters Exports have been a quiet hero during the last few years. While only 13 percent of the economy, the export sector contributed 44 percent to the growth of the economy last year. Manufacturing industries, such as car, aircraft, and pharmaceuticals manufacturing, are particularly export oriented. READ MORE >>

with Nick Marchio In a New York Times article in June, David Leonhardt wrote about the German Example for the U.S., and what we can learn from reforms in its labor market, education, and tax systems. However, one of the biggest lessons Germans can teach Americans nowadays is how to help companies to sell abroad.  While it’s difficult to believe that American businesses need a lesson in selling, the export sector in the U.S. is not as well developed as in other countries like Germany. READ MORE >>

Amid growing concerns over Greek debt and the probability of another economic slowdown, the administr READ MORE >>

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Efforts to boost U.S. competitiveness feature prominently in the administration’s FY 2012 budget.  Significantly, the proposal expands the nation’s export playbook because growing exports requires more than trade and currency policy tweaks. READ MORE >>

Without an extension by the end of December, the 2 year old Build America Bond (BAB) program will expire. As of this writing, both the Senate and House tax bills failed to include BABs as part of their packages. READ MORE >>

Even with a crowded administration agenda this year, export promotion is one area in which  President Obama has shown considerable leadership, not seen in the United States for a long time. The president articulated an ambitious export goal for the nation in the State of the Union: READ MORE >>

The administration has put forth a goal of doubling U.S. in the next five years. It’s a tall order, especially considering the state of some potentially major export markets. READ MORE >>