Abstract
New Jersey now faces its most uncertain economic future since the Great Depression. Previous economic challenges that arose in the post–World War II period seemingly resolved themselves with minimal public policy direction, and prosperity ultimately reigned in every case. But there have been recent warning signs of a potential gathering economic storm. This is raising formidable challenges that until now have been obscured by the sheer momentum of the state’s affluence. This time, the economy may no longer be able to fully self-adapt successfully, as it has in the past, because the state now faces unprecedented competition for high-quality economic growth. This new reality must stand front and center on the publicpolicy agenda.