Includes bibliographical references (p. [211]-213) and index.

GDP and productivity-presidential focus on economic production -- Inflation and interest rates-incentives and disincentives for economic production -- Savings and investment-laying the foundation for economic growth -- Growth of the stock market-the value of private companies -- Employment and poverty line-the "other" bottom lines of economic policy -- Exports and the international trade balance-America's global competitiveness -- Federal budget growth and share of the economy-maintaining a public/private balance -- Federal budget deficits and the national debt-presidential fiscal responsibility -- Federal taxation-raising revenue effectively for the public -- Economic performance rankings from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

This book provides evaluations of American presidents over the course of 66 years of U.S. economic history, using quantitative data to provide credible, defensible answers to controversial questions like "Whose economic policies were more effective, Ronald Reagan's or Bill Clinton's?"