America was once the world’s dream factory. We turned imagination into reality, from curing polio to landing on the Moon to creating the internet. And we were confident that more wonders lay just over the horizon: clean and infinite energy, a cure for cancer, and space colonies. But as we moved into the late 20th century, we grew cautious, even cynical, about what the future held and our ability to shape it. The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Great Downshift in technological progress and economic growth. Nevertheless, James Pethokoukis argues that there’s still hope. Using the latest economic research and policy analysis, as well as insights from top economists, historians, and technologists, Pethokoukis reveals that the failed futuristic visions of the past were totally possible. It’s time for America to embrace the future confidently, act boldly, and take that giant leap forward.