Room For Debate: A Chance to Reshape the Economy

Introduction

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With all the volatility last week, it can feel as if the economy is collapsing around us. Maybe it is. Maybe we’re on the second downhill slide of a double-dip recession. But eventually the worst will be behind us, and we’ll face the question: What’s ahead?

Is this dragged-out downturn a chance for big changes in our economy, like Warren Buffett’s proposal to narrow the rich-poor divide through higher taxes on the very rich? As the U.S. recovers, should it be less dependent on consumer spending? Or could unemployment push the American work force toward shorter workweeks, like the European norms?

 Read the Discussion »

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Topics: Economy, recession, unemployment

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Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=f0458860ae46aa5ddc8c6bbc0a28138f