Why the U.S. will thrive in a more competitive world.

• Author: Brooks, David
• Position: Column

Everywhere I go, people tell me China and India are going to blow by us in the coming decades. They've got the hunger. They've got the people. We're a tired old power, destined to fade. But the facts and figures tell a different story. Has the U.S. lost its vitality? No. Americans remain the hardest-working people on the face of the Earth and the most productive. Has the U.S. stopped investing in the future? No. The U.S. accounts for roughly 40 percent of the world's R&D [research and development] spending. Is the U.S. becoming a less important player in the world economy? Not yet. The U.S. still accounts for over 30 percent of the world's G.D.P., despite the rise of...