Let's say that USA will maintaing its geopolitical dominance a.k.a control over raw material sources and world markets. Current wages will remain the same but all the plants and services outsourced for the past 20 years will reincarnate, imports dwindle, immigration will dry up. How do you think living standards (strictly in $ term$) will go up or down? I'm betting on down + environment problems will skyrocket + road congestions will skyrocket + poverty will go up + ... In other words Americans will live according to their means :) (not exactly, considering geopolitical dominance, but closer).

Standards for the wealthy will go up, for the middle class will be wiped out and the poor will be desolate and poverty striken even worse because allot of middle class people will be joining them in poverty.:mad:

How do you think living standards (strictly in $ term$) will go up or down?
For the hunters or the gatherers?

Hunters do what it takes.

Gatherers fret.