Falling behind
Subtitle: how rising inequality harms the middle class
By: Robert H. Frank
Series: The Aaron Wildavsky forum for public policy -- 4
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Berkeley
Language: eng
Number of pages: 148
ISBN-13: 9780520252523; 9780520251885
Subjects: Equality; Income distribution; Conditions économiques; Middle class; Revenu; Aspect psychologique; Mittelstand; Einkommensverteilung; Inégalité sociale; Aspect économique; Wirtschaftliche Lage; Répartition; Consommation (Économie politique); Consumption (Economics); Classes moyennes; Psychologie; Verbraucherverhalten; Economic conditions
Description: Although middle-income families don't earn much more than they did several decades ago, they are buying bigger cars, houses, and appliances. To pay for them, they spend more than they earn and carry record levels of debt. In a book that explores the very meaning of happiness and prosperity in America today, Robert Frank explains how increased concentrations of income and wealth at the top of the economic pyramid have set off "expenditure cascades" that raise the cost of achieving many basic goals for the middle class. Writing for a general audience, Frank employs up-to-date economic data and examples drawn from everyday life to shed light on reigning models of consumer behavior. He also suggests reforms that could mitigate the costs of inequality. This book compels us to rethink how and why we live our economic lives the way we do.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-140) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Recent changes in income and wealth inequality; title: Inequality, happiness, and health; title: Envy or context?; title: The rising cost of adequate; title: Why do we care about rank?; title: What types of consumption are most sensitive to context?; title: How can middle-class families afford to keep up?; title: Smart for one, dumb for all; title: Looking ahead; title: Lessons for public policy; title: Reflections.