Leading economist John B. Taylor’s straightforward plan to rebuild America’s economic future by returning to its founding principles. Mired in a crippling economic slump and hamstrung by partisan political debates, America faces substantial economic challenges, from widespread unemployment to the government’s ballooning debt. These assaults on our prosperity reflect the unintended consequences of more than a decade of government intervention in virtually all areas of the economy. Stanford University economist John B. Taylor proposes a natural and reasonable solution to our economic challenges: return to the country’s founding principles—limited government, rule of law, strong incentives, reliance on markets, a predictable policy framework—and rekindle its economic dynamism.

In the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, investors and the electorate alike are seeking clarity on a wide range of macro policy issues that will impact the economy and markets in the years ahead. The primary goal of this book is to provide an objective source for investors to learn about economic policy issues that surfaced. Topics include long-term growth, the federal budget deficit, healthcare reform, tax reform, regulatory policies affecting the financial system and environment, the nexus of monetary, exchange rate and trade policies, and globalization. The book explains how these issues have evolved, considers arguments from both sides of the political divide, and draws upon evidence from studies by experts in the respective areas. A related goal is to assess the likely impact of economic policies on financial markets. While the presidential election was close, the markets’ response was decisive: U.S. and global equity markets went on a tear as consumer and business confidence soared. This surprised many investors who believed a Trump victory would be bad for financial markets. It also caused many to question whether expectations embedded in markets were too optimistic. Sargen’s assessment is presented in the opening and concluding chapters.

A vivid and revealing portrait of companies, unions, and individuals fighting to change and survive, Restoring Prosperity offers a road map which will lead workers and management to a better future. Wilms and his team were granted complete access to all employees at four major companies which were struggling, to get a first-hand view of how management reforms really filter down to the shop floor.