Part 2/9:
The U.S. economy appears to be gradually hollowing out its industrial base to sustain what some might call a "global dollar empire." As the nation faces staggering debt-to-GDP ratios—approximately 120% for the U.S. and over 240% for Japan—the outlook for future recessions seems tied to policy decisions rather than organic economic cycles. The debate is now heating up about the necessity of shifts in monetary policy to allow for new fiscal approaches.