Business Roundtable

February 2009

Maintaining U.S. Leadership in the World Economy

The U.S. economy today drives world growth, innovation and prosperity. And as recent events reinforce, the health of the U.S. economy is inextricably linked to the economic health of the rest of the world. If America is not doing well, the rest of the world is affected.

America can and must maintain a leadership role in the world economy. In an interconnected and increasingly competitive global environment, the members of Business Roundtable believe that it is now more important than ever to commit ourselves to the core values and policies that have traditionally made America’s economy strong:

• Sound fiscal policies that keep us on a path of growth and prosperity, including a regulatory and tax structure that complements growth;
• Open and competitive markets built upon modern and efficient infrastructure and robust and transparent financial markets;
• Innovation driven by our entrepreneurial culture, vigorous investment in R&D and a world-class education system;
• A highly productive, skilled workforce with access to the highest-quality health care system and lifelong learning; and
• A commitment to environmental stewardship combined with the development of sustainable, secure and reliable energy supplies.

We recognize that we also must continually re-evaluate our policies to ensure that they reflect emerging 21st century issues.

The CEOs of Business Roundtable are committed to preserving U.S. economic leadership and to the people who keep our economy modern, competitive and thriving — the U.S. workforce.

U.S. Corporations: Drivers of Economic Success

Providing a Foundation of Stability, Growth and Prosperity

The more than 160 corporations that make up Business Roundtable represent the capstone of the American economy and the cornerstones of the communities in which we operate. We employ millions of workers in stable, well-paying jobs, providing health care and other benefits to our employees, retirees and their family members; contributing time and resources to philanthropic causes; and keeping America growing, prosperous and economically secure.

Serving as a Historic and Vital Repository of Middle Class Savings

Despite the current economic crisis, historic growth trends of America's corporations have made corporate equities an ever-growing part of the savings and retirement accounts of middle class Americans. Half of all U.S. households own corporate equities, both individually and in pension and other retirement funds.¹ A typical investor is middle class with a household income of $65,000.² These households must be able to trust in the health and security of their assets.

Building the Infrastructure of the 21st Century

Today, America's corporations are building the infrastructure of the 21st century economy, enabling the United States to maintain its economic leadership in global markets. Every year, America's corporations make investments that have been compared to the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century, which united our nation and enabled the United States to become a power. Who else but large corporations could invest the hundreds of billions of dollars it costs to lay fiber-optic cable and raise cell towers across the American continent, build new jetliners to compete against foreign competition, and bring to market new life-saving drugs?

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