Five ways to improve economic growth

Later this month, the Commerce Department will unveil its estimate of how much the American economy grew in the second quarter of 2016. If the recent pattern holds, the number will be disappointing. Last week the government announced that the economy grew at an annual rate of 1.1 percent in the first quarter of 2016, a slowdown from the 1.4 percent annual rate from the fourth quarter of 2015. These numbers are "real" rates, that is, after the government makes its adjustments for inflation.

Later this month, the Commerce Department will unveil its estimate of how much the American economy grew in the second quarter of 2016. If the recent pattern holds, the number will be disappointing. Last week the government announced that the economy grew at an annual rate of 1.1 percent in the first quarter of 2016, a slowdown from the 1.4 percent annual rate from the fourth quarter of 2015. These numbers are "real" rates, that is, after the government makes its adjustments for inflation.…