--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America used to be a uniquely productive…" description: "\"America used to be a uniquely productive, low-cost place to do business. We had efficient infrastructure. We had limited regulation. We believed in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/michael-porter-12352_america_america-used-to-be-a-uniquely-productive_2343578.png" --- # America used to be a uniquely productive, low-cost place… ![“America used to be a uniquely productive, low-cost place to do business. We had efficient infrastructure. We had limited regulation. We believed in the market.” quote by Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/michael-porter-12352_america_america-used-to-be-a-uniquely-productive_2343578.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/michael-porter-12352_america_america-used-to-be-a-uniquely-productive_2343578.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/michael-porter-12352_america_america-used-to-be-a-uniquely-productive_2343578.png) > “America used to be a uniquely productive, low-cost place to do business. We had efficient infrastructure. We had limited regulation. We believed in the market.” [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America once thrived on low costs, efficient infrastructure, minimal regulation, and market confidence. **In simple terms:** America was once cheap, efficient, and market‑driven. Key Takeaway Leverage efficient systems and trust in markets for productivity. Themes economics infrastructure regulation market confidence productivity Mood concerned pragmatic Type economic strategic When to use this quote - startup planning - foreign investment - policy analysis - regional development - cost reduction strategies Key Concepts comparative advantage supply chain business environment Questions to Reflect On - What modern factors hinder low‑cost productivity? - How can infrastructure be modernized without excess regulation? A Different Perspective Current complexities may limit replicating past conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Infrastructure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infrastructure/) [Low-cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-cost/) [Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market/) [Regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulation/) ## Related quotes > [Being an American doesn't mean that you're guaranteed a high wage. You have to be productive, and we have to create a very low-cost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/being-an-american-doesn-t-mean-that-you-re-guaranteed-a-high-wage-you/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [We've got to make sure that we rebuild the infrastructure in America, because we used to be - have the best bridges, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-make-sure-that-we-rebuild-the-infrastructure-in-america/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [America I used to be a communist when I was a kid and I'm not sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-used-to-be-a-communist-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-m-not-sorry/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [The idea that America used to be great is, in the minds of a lot of people who were oppressed by America, and remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cord-jefferson/the-idea-that-america-used-to-be-great-is-in-the-minds-of-a-lot-of/) [Cord Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cord-jefferson/) > [I believe in the country America used to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/i-believe-in-the-country-america-used-to-be/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [The African-American is often used, and has conspired with the rest of America to be used, as a diversion from America's problems. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-african-american-is-often-used-and-has-conspired-with-the-rest-of/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I think what Donald Trump is saying to people is that America has way more leverage at the negotiating table than America has used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-think-what-donald-trump-is-saying-to-people-is-that-america-has-way/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [The way music reflects real life, the way that painstakingly, over the years, what I have said is really a metaphor for what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/the-way-music-reflects-real-life-the-way-that-painstakingly-over-the/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [America used to have a strong 'moral safety net' for its people. Today that net is badly frayed, not only because families are disintegrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/america-used-to-have-a-strong-moral-safety-net-for-its-people-today/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [Today the separation of church and state is America is used to silence the church... The way the concept is used today is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/today-the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-america-is-used-to/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [States are looking for low-cost solutions that will enable better communication, while avoiding the danger in which the chain of command breaks down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shimkus/states-are-looking-for-low-cost-solutions-that-will-enable-better/) [John Shimkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shimkus/) > [It wasn't until the Apple Macintosh that people understood what true hardware-software integration was about. It took one company to line it up: low-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-fadell/it-wasn-t-until-the-apple-macintosh-that-people-understood-what-true/) [Tony Fadell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-fadell/) > [I want to bring clean water to people who do not have it. What I'm trying to do now is think of ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kamkwamba/i-want-to-bring-clean-water-to-people-who-do-not-have-it-what-i-m/) [William Kamkwamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kamkwamba/) > [I do not believe it is appropriate or in the best interest of Kentucky to recommend policies that would move Kentucky from low-cost energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/i-do-not-believe-it-is-appropriate-or-in-the-best-interest-of/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Every time the U.S. government makes a low-cost loan to someone, it's investing in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/every-time-the-u-s-government-makes-a-low-cost-loan-to-someone-it-s/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) ## More by Michael Porter > [So companies have to be very schizophrenic. On one hand, they have to maintain continuity of strategy. But they also have to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/so-companies-have-to-be-very-schizophrenic-on-one-hand-they-have-to/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Strategy is about setting yourself apart from the competition. It's not a matter of being better at what you do - it's a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/strategy-is-about-setting-yourself-apart-from-the-competition-it-s/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Good leaders need a positive agenda, not just an agenda of dealing with crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/good-leaders-need-a-positive-agenda-not-just-an-agenda-of-dealing/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Health care historically has been a very siloed field that's organized around medical specialties - urology, cardiac surgery, and so forth - and around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/health-care-historically-has-been-a-very-siloed-field-that-s/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Being an American doesn't mean that you're guaranteed a high wage. You have to be productive, and we have to create a very low-cost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/being-an-american-doesn-t-mean-that-you-re-guaranteed-a-high-wage-you/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [The U.S. is facing a structural competitiveness problem that is leading to the weakest economy we have seen in generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/the-u-s-is-facing-a-structural-competitiveness-problem-that-is/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/innovation-is-the-central-issue-in-economic-prosperity/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [I'm really puzzled by why people in societies find it difficult to work collaboratively together with other people in societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/i-m-really-puzzled-by-why-people-in-societies-find-it-difficult-to/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [In America, the problems of poverty and low income, particularly for minorities, are disproportionately focused in the inner cities. Shining a spotlight on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/in-america-the-problems-of-poverty-and-low-income-particularly-for/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [You can't have a healthy society unless you have healthy companies that are making a profit, that are employing people and that are growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/you-can-t-have-a-healthy-society-unless-you-have-healthy-companies/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [The ability to change constantly and effectively is made easier by high-level continuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/the-ability-to-change-constantly-and-effectively-is-made-easier-by/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [I think that, too many times, business has been seen as acting in its narrow self-interest rather than, essentially, contributing more broadly to society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/i-think-that-too-many-times-business-has-been-seen-as-acting-in-its/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [If your goal is anything but profitability - if it's to be big, or to grow fast, or to become a technology leader -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/if-your-goal-is-anything-but-profitability-if-it-s-to-be-big-or-to/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Unfortunately, I'm an engineer. I'm always thinking about, what's the task and how do I get it done? And some of my tasks are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/unfortunately-i-m-an-engineer-i-m-always-thinking-about-what-s-the/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/strategy-is-about-making-choices-trade-offs-it-s-about-deliberately/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) [Explore all 55 Michael Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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