McKinsey examines the arc of US competitiveness, past, present, and future. America’s history of reinvention holds compelling lessons as the nation confronts a future of immense if uncertain opportunity.
At 250, sustaining America’s competitive edge
McKinsey & Company
Research
79 Pages
Key Takeaways
Global Leader: At 250 years old, the United States is the world’s most competitive economy. It generates 26 percent of global GDP and is home to 59 of the world’s top 100 firms.
Innovation: A culture of innovation and natural abundance are abiding strengths on which to draw. By our count, Americans created or supported 76 of the 100 most important inventions since 1776, from steamboats to smartphones, from the electrical grid to generative AI.
Economic Edge Since the country’s founding, American competitiveness has shifted but sustained across four historical chapters: agricultural, industrial, scientific, and digital. A new one is coming.
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