Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • March 2012
  • Article
  • Harvard Business Review

The Looming Challenge to U.S Competitiveness

By: Michael E. Porter and Jan W. Rivkin
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:8
ShareBar

Abstract

The United States is a competitive location to the extent that companies operating in the U.S. are able to compete successfully in the global economy while supporting high and rising living standards for the average American. By this standard, U.S. competitiveness is in grave danger. The erosion of U.S. competitiveness began well before the Great Recession. The U.S. faces competition from a widening range of nations with lower wages and improving economic strategies. But a short-term focus in many businesses and political gridlock have prevented the U.S. from taking the steps needed to meet the challenge. The U.S. retains core strengths in areas such as entrepreneurship and higher education. However, these are increasingly nullified by weaknesses in the tax code, fiscal policy, K-12 education, and other areas. To address its challenges, America needs a strategy and a consensus on direction.  Government will play a crucial role, but business must lead the way.

Keywords

Problems and Challenges; Competition

Citation

Porter, Michael E., and Jan W. Rivkin. "The Looming Challenge to U.S Competitiveness." Harvard Business Review 90, no. 3 (March 2012): 54–61.
  • Purchase

About The Authors

Michael E. Porter

Strategy
→More Publications

Jan W. Rivkin

Strategy
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • April 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Connecting Students in Chattanooga (B)

    By: Jan W. Rivkin and Manjari Raman
    • April 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Connecting Students in Chattanooga (A)

    By: Jan W. Rivkin and Manjari Raman
    • March 2022
    • Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory

    Sensitivity Analysis of Agent-based Models: A New Protocol

    By: Emanuele Borgonovo, Marco Pangallo, Jan Rivkin, Leonardo Rizzo and Nicolaj Siggelkow
More from the Authors
  • Connecting Students in Chattanooga (B) By: Jan W. Rivkin and Manjari Raman
  • Connecting Students in Chattanooga (A) By: Jan W. Rivkin and Manjari Raman
  • Sensitivity Analysis of Agent-based Models: A New Protocol By: Emanuele Borgonovo, Marco Pangallo, Jan Rivkin, Leonardo Rizzo and Nicolaj Siggelkow
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College