Why America Needs an Economic Strategy  The Harvard Business
School competitiveness guru offers his prescription for long-
term prosperity  With the U.S. Election just days away, it has
never been more important to consider what the next President
must do to keep America competitive. In this time of crisis,
Washington has focused on the immediate and the short term. Lost
are the more basic questions we really need to worry about: What
is the fundamental competitive position of the U.S. in the
global economy? And what must we do to remain strong when other
nations are making rapid progress?  The stark truth is that the
U.S. has no long-term economic strategy—no coherent set of
policies to ensure competitiveness over the long haul. Strategy
embodies clear priorities, based on understanding the strengths
we need to preserve and the weaknesses that threaten our
prosperity the most. Strategy addresses what to do, but also
what not to do. In dealing with a crisis, experience teaches us
that steps to address the imme