In the U.S., recent headlines have focused on such issues as the debt ceiling, the recent credit rating downgrade, and unemployment. But consider this: increasing the average growth rate in the U.S. by one percentage point over the next 20 years would not only result in much higher incomes and more jobs but would also obviate the need for drastic spending cuts today to reign in the government deficit.

With a 2% increase per year, average incomes, and to a first approximation government tax revenues, would be 49% higher in 20 years than they are today; with a 3% increase per year, they would be 81% higher. The underlying message? We should not take our eye off the really important ball: economic growth and the innovation process that underpins it.

Economics Professor Daron Acemoglu (read his bio following the link below), offered his thoughts and answered questions submitted by the worldwide MIT alumni community on October 26, 2011. Watch the video then join the discussion online.