The United States has began to emerge as the leading industrial power in the world. The manufacturing outputs exceeds that of the three largest rivals, Great Britain, France, and Germany. The speedy growth of the U.S. economy, averages to about 4 percent a year. This is the result of many factors. The United States is a source of natural resources, including raw materials essential for industrialization. These raw materials include coal, iron ore, copper, lead, timber, and oil. The vast amount of labor supply is multiplied by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The increase of population, combined with the advances in transportation network, make the United States the largest market in the world for industrial goods. Capital becomes plentiful, as Europeans with excessive wealth recognize a good investment and join well-to-do Americans in funding the economic expansion. The evolution of technologies increases productivity. Businesses benefit from friendly government policies that protect private property, fund railroads with land grants and loans, aid U.S. manufacturers with protective tariffs, and refrain from regulating business operations and from heavily taxing corporate profits. Gifted entrepreneurs begin to emerge. They are able to build and manage vast industrial and commercial enterprises.