The question of why some companies succeed while others languish prompted the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to sponsor the March 1983 conference on Growth Industries in the 1980s from which this book was derived. Experts from key industries addressed the question at a time when recession caused bankruptcy in many businesses. Paradoxically, many small companies, primarily in high technology areas, grew dynamically and added 15 million jobs to the nation's economy. This book, presenting the current thinking of highly regarded contributors, offers insights into how this nation can encourage the growth of companies and industries that will restore our competitive advantage.