---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that over the last few decades…"
description: "\"I think that over the last few decades, we have seen better economic outcomes than in the past.\" — Martin Feldstein"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg"
---

#  I think that over the last few decades, we have seen…

![“I think that over the last few decades, we have seen better economic outcomes than in the past.” quote by Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg)

> “I think that over the last few decades, we have seen better economic outcomes than in the past.”

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The economist observes that recent decades have produced better economic results compared to earlier periods.

**In simple terms:** Economic performance has improved over time.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and build on recent economic gains.

Themes

economics history policy growth

Mood

optimistic analytical

Type

academic informative

When to use this quote

- policy planning
- investment strategy
- educational curricula
- public discourse

Key Concepts

GDP trends income inequality technological advancement

Questions to Reflect On

- What factors drove the recent improvements?
- Are current trends sustainable?

A Different Perspective

Improved outcomes may mask underlying inequalities or future risks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-economic-3774627/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Decades Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades-seen-2344643/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-outcomes-3784164/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Few](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [In the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-the-past/) [Last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last/) [Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes/) [Outcomes Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes-past-5231161/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-decades-333572/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [If you take the same child and put them in two different places, it will dramatically shape the way in which their economic outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/if-you-take-the-same-child-and-put-them-in-two-different-places-it/)

[Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/)

> [The last three decades have seen the collapse of the family wage system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lasch/the-last-three-decades-have-seen-the-collapse-of-the-family-wage/)

[Christopher Lasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lasch/)

> [Without better economic opportunity, you can't have better public security and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/without-better-economic-opportunity-you-can-t-have-better-public/)

[Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/)

> [Recreation produces better economic benefits than barge traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-faber/recreation-produces-better-economic-benefits-than-barge-traffic/)

[Scott Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-faber/)

> [I think we can reform Social Security without raising taxes, which is better for economic growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-think-we-can-reform-social-security-without-raising-taxes-which-is/)

[Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/)

> [As we move toward a new Middle East, over the years and, I think, over the decades to come, we will make a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woolsey/as-we-move-toward-a-new-middle-east-over-the-years-and-i-think-over/)

[James Woolsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woolsey/)

> [As far as actually setting up colonies of people who would live their whole lives in space, I think we're a long ways from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/as-far-as-actually-setting-up-colonies-of-people-who-would-live-their/)

[John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/)

> [“Too many people are missing their destiny a year at a time because they're too scared to think in decades!" (p. 127)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-greig/too-many-people-are-missing-their-destiny-a-year-at-a-time-because/)

[Pete Greig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-greig/)

> [My talent is getting things to work that people think are many decades in the future. I say we can make them happen now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-brooks/my-talent-is-getting-things-to-work-that-people-think-are-many/)

[Rodney Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-brooks/)

> [“I watch the perfectly imperfect people several stories below, living their perfectly imperfect lives, and I think about how many decades will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-watch-the-perfectly-imperfect-people-several-stories-below-living/)

[Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/)

> [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/)

[James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/)

> [It's not a very nice thing to not have empathy. I would like to have empathy. In the past I haven't been very empathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/it-s-not-a-very-nice-thing-to-not-have-empathy-i-would-like-to-have/)

[Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/)

> [In the past, I've been a workaholic. I'm trying not to be anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-shuler-donner/in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-workaholic-i-m-trying-not-to-be-anymore/)

[Lauren Shuler Donner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-shuler-donner/)

> [September 11 was a wake-up call to me. I don't want to contribute to the hate in any shape or form. I now regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/september-11-was-a-wake-up-call-to-me-i-don-t-want-to-contribute-to/)

[Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/)

> [Voting Labour in the past hasn't protected Scotland against Tory governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/voting-labour-in-the-past-hasn-t-protected-scotland-against-tory/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

## More by Martin Feldstein

> [In short, both experience and economic theory imply that the US could now t to a more competitive dollar without experiencing either increased inflation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/in-short-both-experience-and-economic-theory-imply-that-the-us-could/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [The more competitive value of the dollar turned around the trade deficit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/the-more-competitive-value-of-the-dollar-turned-around-the-trade/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [Inflation is lower and more stable and the real business cycle fluctuations are more modest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/inflation-is-lower-and-more-stable-and-the-real-business-cycle/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [Increased government spending can provide a temporary stimulus to demand and output but in the longer run higher levels of government spending crowd out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/increased-government-spending-can-provide-a-temporary-stimulus-to/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [And finally, no matter how good the science gets, there are problems that inevitably depend on judgment, on art, on a feel for financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/and-finally-no-matter-how-good-the-science-gets-there-are-problems/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [Thirty years ago, many economists argued that inflation was a kind of minor inconvenience and that the cost of reducing inflation was too high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/thirty-years-ago-many-economists-argued-that-inflation-was-a-kind-of/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [Even if the dollar does decline during the coming months, the delays in the response of exports and imports to the more competitive dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/even-if-the-dollar-does-decline-during-the-coming-months-the-delays/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [First, I think the science of monetary economics has clearly gotten better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/first-i-think-the-science-of-monetary-economics-has-clearly-gotten/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [But because we in the United States finance our current account deficit by borrowing in our own currency, we can move to a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/but-because-we-in-the-united-states-finance-our-current-account/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [To finance this trade deficit, the U.S. has to borrow from the rest of the world or sell American assets like stocks, businesses, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/to-finance-this-trade-deficit-the-u-s-has-to-borrow-from-the-rest-of/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [We are particularly poor at the open economy issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/we-are-particularly-poor-at-the-open-economy-issues/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [But then in April of 1985 the dollar began a sharp decline. The dollar's trade weighted value fell 23 percent in just 12 months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/but-then-in-april-of-1985-the-dollar-began-a-sharp-decline-the-dollar/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [We pay some price when necessary to bring down inflation but that price is temporary and is not large relative to the permanent gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/we-pay-some-price-when-necessary-to-bring-down-inflation-but-that/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [A rise in the level of saving can reduce aggregate activity temporarily but only a sustained high level of saving makes it possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/a-rise-in-the-level-of-saving-can-reduce-aggregate-activity/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [The good news is that a competitive dollar in the global market and a strong dollar at home are compatible in both the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/the-good-news-is-that-a-competitive-dollar-in-the-global-market-and-a/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

[Explore all 29 Martin Feldstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think that over the last few decades, we have seen better economic outcomes than in the past.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Feldstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-we-have-seen-better-economic/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-we-have-seen-better-economic/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/martin-feldstein-21258_better_i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-w_655095.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think that over the last few decades, we have seen better economic outcomes than in the past.” — Martin Feldstein",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Martin Feldstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think that over the last...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-we-have-seen-better-economic/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/i-think-that-over-the-last-few-decades-we-have-seen-better-economic/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
