Et tu America? What USA can learn from fall of Roman Empire
Is modern America destined to fall in the same way as the Roman Empire?
US flag america united states pixabay
Hywel George, Director of Investments at Old Mutual Investment Group, joins Ray White.
Listen below.
'America is in decline' claimed a Newsweek article in April 2024, citing a Gallup poll showing just 33% of Americans were satisfied with the country's global position, down from 65% in 2000.
As Donald Trump and Joe Biden go head to head once again for the United States top job, questions abound as to the real state of the nation.
Public-policy failures, dysfunctional politics, enormous debt... is this a temporary slip in America's upward trajectory, or the beginning of the end, akin to the fall of the Roman Empire?
All empires collapse, reminds George.
"The US has been the de facto empire of the West and of the whole world for the last 50 to 100 years."
- Hywel George, Director of Investments - Old Mutual Investment Group
At its peak, the Roman Empire controlled about a quarter of the world's population.
"What it didn't realise was that it was already peaking and declining because it had overreached and spent too much money."
- Hywel George, Director of Investments - Old Mutual Investment Group
Does the United States now find itself in the same boat?
"It's spent a lot of money, and would have an element of overreach, in terms of its global influence, and it may be that it's begun its decline."
- Hywel George, Director of Investments - Old Mutual Investment Group
"This could go on for decades, even centuries, but things happen quicker these days... and the numbers at play are very large."
- Hywel George, Director of Investments - Old Mutual Investment Group
"We'll see how Trump has an influence on that if he comes back into power in November."
- Hywel George, Director of Investments - Old Mutual Investment Group
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.