The document discusses the significant challenges facing the new presidential administration, particularly focusing on economic dissatisfaction among Americans who feel they are struggling to make progress despite hard work. It highlights low GDP growth, declining labor participation rates, stagnant wages, and growing economic disparity. The document suggests addressing economic issues as a priority for the new president to unite the country.

1. Challenges facing anew
administration

2. How will the new president unite the
country?
2© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.
Address the root cause of manyAmericans’
frustration — the economy.
People believe they’re working harder but can’t get ahead.
• They see the wealthy as more than recovered from the
recession.
• They aren’t optimistic about their children’s opportunities or the
new president’s ability to change things.

3. An election for the ages
Two of the most unpopular candidates in history
Favorable: 43.1%
Unfavorable: 53.0%
Favorable: 35.4%
Unfavorable: 61.7%
RealClearPolitics Average 9/28–10/20
Hillary
Clinton
3© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.
Donald
Trump
See where Clinton & Trump
stand on tax

4. Direction of the country
Source: RealClearPolitics average 9/15 – 10/8
Right Direction – 30.2%
Wrong Track – 63.4%
2/
We asked…What do you
want from Congress?
Check out our leaders'
responses.
4© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.

5. GDP growth since 2007
-8
-10
-6
-4
0
-2
2
4
6
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Average growth
1976-2006
From 2007 to 2015,
GDP average grewat
less than half that ofthe
previous 30 years.
Source: US. Bureau of Labor Statistics
5© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.

6. Labor participation rate
60.0
59.0
58.0
61.0
66.0
67.0
68.0
1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
65.0
64.0
63.0
62.0
40-year low
Labor participation
rate is the lowest it
has been in nearly
four decades.
Source: US. Bureau of Labor Statistics
6© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.

7. Unemployment
Source: US. Bureau of Labor Statistics
At height of
recession
10%
1-year
average
4.9%
9.7% with shadow
unemployment:
The underemployed
and those who have
given up looking.
7© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.

8. Real median income
Source: US. Bureau of Labor Statistics
$44,000
$46,000
$48,000
$50,000
$52,000
$54,000
$56,000
$58,000
$60,000
1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014
Peak
$57,909
2015
$56,516
Wages have been
stagnant for nearly
two decades.
8© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.

9. Net worth has plummeted…for some
Median net worth change 1998–2013
All families -20.8%
Lower class -26.5%
Working class -52.7%
Middle class -19.1%
Top 10% 74.9%
46% of Americans
can't come up with
$400 to cover an
emergency expense.
9© Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved.
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances

10. Addressing the economy would
be a logical first step for the
next president.

11. © Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved. 11
Think tanks score Trump and Clinton tax plans for
dynamic effect
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12. © Grant Thornton LLP. All rights reserved. 11
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