McKinsey & Company

The Next Chapter of American Economic Competitiveness: A CEO and Board Agenda

The Mackenzie Live session examined the "next chapter of American economic competitiveness," featuring McKinsey partners Eric Kutcher and Olivia White. Drawing on their new Global Institute report, they highlighted that the United States, on the brink of its 250th anniversary, now generates roughly 26% of global GDP while representing only 4% of the world’s population, and that American firms account for 59% of the world’s top‑100 companies by market value. Key data points underscored both strengths and vulnerabilities. The U.S. leads in AI model creation and spends about 5% of GDP on R&D, yet faces a looming debt burden unseen since World War II, a stark shortfall in engineering graduates—about 10% of China’s output—and $1.5 trillion of infrastructure projects stalled by permitting delays. CEOs report AI, geopolitics, and talent as their top concerns, emphasizing a “reimagined moment” that demands new strategic thinking. Olivia noted the dynamism of U.S. firms, with rapid turnover fostering innovation, while Eric recounted conversations with CEOs who view AI as the future currency and stress the need for faster capital deployment. He also warned that traditional moats are eroding, urging leaders to adopt an attacker mindset. The discussion highlighted five imperatives, beginning with AI fluency, which requires education reform, workforce reskilling, and robust energy and data infrastructure. The panel concluded that maintaining America’s competitive edge hinges on coordinated public‑private investment, accelerated infrastructure rollout, and a national push for AI literacy. Without these actions, the historic advantage could wane, but the entrepreneurial spirit and past reinventions suggest a pathway forward if policymakers and business leaders align their efforts.