As stock markets gyrate, Europe lurches from crisis to crisis, and U.S. recovery slows, the future of the North American economy is more uncertain than ever. Can individual entrepreneurship, corporate innovation and governments create a new era of sustained economic growth? Or, will the financial crisis, U.S. political dysfunction, and the rise of emerging nations erode our living standards for the long term? Fundamentally, will the next generation of North Americans enjoy the same quality of life as its parents? To promote a far-ranging discussion of an issue critical to every Canadian, the 8th semi-annual Munk Debate convenes four big thinkers to tackle the resolution: Be it resolved North America faces a Japan-style era of economic stagnation.