Ms. Nasar traces the hopeful strain of economic growth thinking back to the dimly remembered Alfred Marshall.

FORBES: Dear Budget Supercommittee: It's Time To Grow Up

The weakness underscored the strain that slower growth in India's economy and personal incomes has put on the industry.

WSJ: India February Car Sales Fall the Most in 12 Years

But the high euro and slow growth on the Continent are putting extra strain on the U.S. to pull the world back from the brink of a new recession.

FORBES: The Other Problem

Unfortunately, growth of consumer base in these markets is limited to population growth and market share gains involve aggressive marketing and advertising, putting strain on operating margins.

FORBES: Kimberley-Clark Capitalizes On EM Population Growth

The current strain shows that the electric power system is at capacity even though there has been little economic growth.

FORBES: Lights Out For Brazil?

After a period of financial strain that caused the dividend to be cut in 2009, the company has been taking aggressive action toward generating growth.

FORBES: Warren Buffett's Stocks with Dividend Yields Above 3.5%