The disequilibria in the world economy, of which the massive trade and current account deficits of the USA are but one manifestation, have reached dangerous proportions. The following article presents a number of scenarios to show how they may develop in future.

Disagreement on appropriate policies to reduce the American balance of payments deficit has been a major source of friction between the US, on the one hand, and the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan, on the other. Against this background Professor Bronfenbrenner Presents a theoretical...