The Upside of Down

China’s economy will soon surpass America’s. Europeans now rank higher than Americans on quality-of-life measures. While such global trends mean the US can’t forever remain the world’s political and economic arbiter, this shift presents new opportunities. Economist Charles Kenny says developing nations’ rising standards of living generate more opportunities for developed nations and for entrepreneurs worldwide. Because the economic world is not a zero-sum game, where one nation’s advance means another’s decline, the rise of China and India do not pose a threat to the US. Viewing them with fear, Kenny says, is the sort of fallacious thinking that breeds protectionism, animosity and conflict. His provocative message is that global prosperity benefits everyone and is closer now than ever before. The postcolonial future is coming, he says, and Americans should adapt. While prediction has obvious pitfalls, Kenny offers a fresh if somewhat rosy perspective on world economics, served with an intriguing future vision. While always politically neutral, getAbstract recommends his treatise to those seeking a groundbreaking, readable economics overview that backs its conclusions with specific, illuminating examples.