When did growth become a bad word in the US?

IF THE United States ceases to be the world’s economic leader, it can only blame itself.

In the last few weeks, international institutions and prominent economists have warned that the global economy, especially the US, is facing the prospect of lower growth – not just a recession, but low growth for a decade or longer. Some of it will be caused by an ageing population, but we are also choosing policies that will hobble our economy. You might think this would raise alarm bells and growth would become a priority, but instead it’s been met with a collective shrug – or even a doubling down on low-growth policies.

Explaining why economic growth is important used to be an unnecessary and trite bromide, like explaining the benefits of living longer or why it’s good to be nice to people. Today, economic growth requires defending.