Yellen says 3 percent U.S. growth quite challenging
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That was a hearing focused on regulatory reform and a discussion of lagging productivity.
Trump has pledged to boost annual growth to 3 percent, the average for much of the last 70 years, and predicated an earlier tax plan on reaching that figure.
The Fed, the Congressional Budget Office and others feel that an aging population and lagging productivity mean the economy's potential has downshifted to around 2 percent growth or less - a fact that has profound effects on national wealth as the slower pace compounds over time.
"I think it is something that would be wonderful if you could accomplish it," Yellen said at a Senate committee hearing.
"I think it would be quite challenging," and require a broad set of changes from tax reform to an improved education system that adds to labor productivity. ■