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April 18, 2007
econAmerica…almost
Written by Jeff Thredgold, CSP, President, Thredgold Economic Associates
The writing is finished. The charts are created. The text has been laid out. The editing is done. (Finally!!!) And the release of econAmerica: Why the American Economy is Alive and Well…And What that Means to Your Wallet, my latest book (published by Wiley & Sons), is just two months away (late June).
I wanted to share what people are saying about econAmerica and provide you with the final version of the book’s preface. I also promised earlier that I would update you on how you could get a great deal on a copy—and an even better deal on multiple copies.
So here goes…
What They’re Saying
“If you live in the real world, this book is a must-read. It is packed with usable insights into the future, the global economy and what you and your company need to know to be competitive.”
—Terry L. Brock, syndicated columnist, marketing coach, www.TerryBrock.com
“In this insightful and practical book, Jeff Thredgold proves that ‘interesting economist’ isn’t an oxymoron. If you want to know what’s really going on in the American economy and the impact it has on your quality of living, read this book.”
—Mark Sanborn, speaker and bestselling author of The Fred Factor and You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader
“This account of history, economic data, and human behavior makes a compelling statement about how the American economy will prevail as globalization evolves.”
—Hazel J. Pankey, Director, Conference Programs, IAMC
“I really enjoyed econAmerica—well thought out, easy to read and understand. With all the economic gloom and doom thrust upon us by the media and politicians, through econAmerica, Jeff Thredgold is a fresh breath of economic hope.”
—Ed Rigsbee, President, Rigsbee Research
Preface
I learned a long time ago that I cannot have a useful discussion about “the economy” with a purely academic economist. To these university economists, almost everything fits into a mathematical equation. In the real world, it does not.
Consumer attitudes and human emotion are as powerful as any other forces impacting the world in which we live. Economics is simply “the study of life” and the choices we make.
Economics—also known as “the dismal science”—gets a bad rap too frequently as being vague and unscientific. To quote a friend, economics should get the respect it deserves alongside the other occult sciences.
Every decision people make is an economic decision. Critical choices about education, employment, earnings, and investing can contribute to a successful career and stress-free retirement, as opposed to a working life and retirement based on pinching pennies.
The American economy has performed well in recent years despite the painful shocks of global terrorism, sky-high energy prices, rising short-term interest rates, and volatile housing markets. Even as solid growth has occurred, the national media has led millions of Americans to believe that the economy is merely limping along, creating few quality jobs, and on the brink of disaster.
Such negativity dominates the economic writing found in the nation’s bookstores. Books focusing on the demise of America, the coming debt crisis, the coming oil crisis, the imminent dominance of China, Europe, or India are far too prevalent.
I served many years as chief economist of one of the nation’s largest financial services firms and now enjoy a thriving business as a professional speaker and economic consultant. I have also been writing a weekly economic and financial newsletter for the past 32 years. Whether in writing or speaking, I have always tried to present a balanced and optimistic view of the global economy and America’s role within it.
This country has a bright future. The American people have a bright future. This book, econAmerica, reflects my view of the way things are—including the good news and the bad news—and the way I think they should be.
econAmerica includes discussions of many critical areas within the U.S. economy, including government and taxation, the entitlement issue, the Federal Reserve, education, immigration, “bridging” to retirement, the stock market, currencies, global competitors, and the power of incentives in the economy.
This book can be of value to both novice and seasoned practitioners of economic study. It focuses on four key factors, or Silver Bullets, that combine to create a strong American economy in coming years.
Opportunities abound as much as ever before. An extremely tight U.S. labor market in coming years will lead to enhanced employee compensation and benefit programs offered by those companies who wish to keep their best and brightest on the job for years to come. In addition, I expect the stock market to perform well.
Today’s opportunities for our young people are no less exciting than they were a generation ago. The Internet provides the means for small players to compete with the giants.
America’s leadership role in the world will continue. Such leadership will occur despite the challenges from China, India, Japan, and a more cohesive Europe.
An important area of my work is forecasting the future. Forecasting is not easy—economists are wrong more often than we are right, for which we receive considerable and well-deserved abuse.
Economists give forecasts of the future not because we know what is going to happen. We give forecasts because we are asked to.
Forecasting is a major challenge because the economy is a moving target subject to whipsaw by unexpected events, which you can expect to occur just after you put a forecast (or a book) into print. For the latest on the economy, please sign up for the Tea Leaf, our free weekly economic and financial newsletter delivered via e-mail. Just visit www.thredgold.com.
I and many other economists will continue to provide forecasts for tomorrow. Tea Leaf readers and members of audiences I address yearly around the world will continue to challenge me, criticize me, and sometimes even agree with me.
In the meantime, I will continue to do what I love doing, that is, a combination of extensive writing and traveling in excess of 100,000 miles annually speaking optimistically about the future of America…
Getting a Deal
econAmerica will be released in late June, but it’s not too early to think about getting a copy. For individual books, Amazon.com is currently offering it for $18.96, an attractive 24% off the $24.95 retail price. You can link to the offer from our home page, www.thredgold.com, or simply follow the link to the right. Even if you order now, your credit card won’t be charged until the book is shipped to you.
If you need multiple copies to share with clients and colleagues, we can give you an even better deal. Simply give us a call at 1-888-847-3346 or send an e-mail to books@thredgold.com.
“Tea”sers
Oxymorons
• Good grief
• Tight slacks
• Microsoft Works
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“Tea”stimonial
“I want to sincerely thank you for your excellent presentation given at The Powder Coating Institute Annual Meeting in San Antonio. Your economic outlook was both educational and entertaining. I also thank you for taking the time to meet with members both before and after your presentation. You were great to work with, a true professional in every sense of the word!”
—Gregory J. Bocchi, Executive Director, The Powder Coating Institute
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If you like the Tea Leaf, you’ll love Jeff Thredgold’s live presentations. Jeff takes your audience on a timely, engaging, and entertaining tour of the U.S. economy and financial markets. Debunking some of today’s most common economic myths, he offers a clear picture of how the American economy is really performing and what that means for the future of your finances.
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