Falling Behind: How Rising Inequality Harms the Middle Class --Free PDF Ebook Download

Free PDF Ebook Download Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: University of California Press (July 9, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0520902211 ISBN-13: 978-0520902213 Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.3 inches From Booklist Economist Frank argues that rising economic inequality harms the middle class, and he uses familiar examples to teach us about consumer behavior. One interesting example is the buying of larger and larger houses by those at the top levels of income and wealth, which leads families in the middle to spend a greater percentage of income on housing in order to send their children to a school of average quality. They must then spend less on other important categories while their real purchasing power over decades stagnates. We learn about the role of technology in shaking out industries where a few become big winners and the rest hardly make it, explaining why foreign competition isn't always the reason. Frank's recommendation in favor of a progressive consumption tax is certain to draw controversy. This is an excellent book, written in an easy, understandable manner, alive with important examples of how our society spends its money and who are the winners and losers. Whaley, Mary --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Product 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 in lively prose 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. Falling Behind compels us to rethink how and why we live our economic lives the way we do. Copub: Russell Sage Foundation --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.