As the gears of the global economy continue to slow, the U.S. has—so far—bucked the trend.
But it can't do so forever.
"The world is counting on the U.S. economy to drive the global recovery," Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said last week ahead of a meeting of G-20 leaders.
"But the global economy cannot prosper broadly relying on the United States to be the importer of first and last resort, nor can it rely on the United States to grow fast enough to make up for weak growth in major world economies."
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Since the Great Recession lifted nearly four years ago, the economies of the developing world have been slowly getting back on their feet. The recovery has been fueled in part by massive monetary stimulus, chiefly from the U.S. Federal Reserve, which has pushed interest rates lower, and for longer, than at any time in its 100-year history.
Until recently, global growth has also been bolstered by China's red-hot economy and its nearly insatiable demand for both raw materials from developing countries and autos, computers and high-end luxury goods made in the U.S. and Europe.