Empire of Debt: The Rise of An Epic Financial Crisis

In no-nonsense prose, Empire of Debt confronts critical concerns about the position of the United States as the world's leading economy and great military might. For many years, the United States has been the country from which others sought advice, money, and a high return on investment. At the same time, Uncle Sam has descended from being the world's largest creditor to its greatest debtor. Why the paradox? The team that conceived the international bestseller Financial Reckoning Day offers the first in-depth look at how Americans abandoned sound traditions of economic freedom, personal liberty, and fiscal restraint, favoring instead government control of the economy, unfettered deficit spending, gluttonous consumption, and fearless military adventurism, all of which have ravaged the business environment, devastated personal balance sheets, and led the global economy to the brink of financial crisis. The authors argue there will be a dramatic change in the economic power of the United States in the coming years that will inevitably impact every American.Understanding this is critical for everyone, from lawmakers and corporate leaders to investors seeking safe places to invest retirement funds. Despite the serious topic, the authors' irreverent style entertains as they find humor in a precarious financial situation.