This clear, readable primer on the economic debates of the 1980s is an invaluable tool for those seeking to understand the supply-side, military Keynesian, and monetary policies of the Reagan era and their continuing influence today. Its call for putting "people before profits" is a compelling rejoinder to the neo-Reaganism of the Clinton administration.
From a leading authority on race and public policy, a deeply researched account of how families rise and fall today Since the Great Recession, most Americans' standard of living has stagnated or declined. Economic inequality is at historic highs. But inequality's impact differs by race; African Americans' net wealth is just a tenth that of white Americans, and over recent decades, white families have accumulated wealth at three times the rate of black families. In our increasingly diverse nation, sociologist Thomas M. Shapiro argues, wealth disparities must be understood in tandem with racial inequities -- a dangerous combination he terms "toxic inequality." In Toxic Inequality, Shapiro reveals how these forces combine to trap families in place. Following nearly two hundred families of different races and income levels over a period of twelve years, Shapiro's research vividly documents the recession's toll on parents and children, the ways families use assets to manage crises and create opportunities, and the real reasons some families build wealth while others struggle in poverty. The structure of our neighborhoods, workplaces, and tax code-much more than individual choices-push some forward and hold others back. A lack of assets, far more common in families of color, can often ruin parents' careful plans for themselves and their children. Toxic inequality may seem inexorable, but it is not inevitable. America's growing wealth gap and its yawning racial divide have been forged by history and preserved by policy, and only bold, race-conscious reforms can move us toward a more just society. "Everyone concerned about the toxic effects of inequality must read this book." -- Robert B. Reich "This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read on economic inequality in the US." -- William Julius Wilson
This volume spotlights the unique problems that often accompany a high-income lifestyle and offers guidelines that can help individuals avoid the pitfalls wealth may bring. Two therapists show how the culture of affluence in America creates unique problems for wealthy adults and children, often resulting in poor psycho-social adjustment, anxiety, low self-esteem, and the inability to have fun. The affluent are under tremendous pressure to achieve. They are subject to a myriad of negative stereotypes that make it difficult for them to have a normal social life. They are taken advantage of, preyed upon, and ridiculed. When they seek professional help for their problems, they may receive little sympathy. This book is a sage and insightful primer aimed at all readers who have some wealth, whether inherited or amassed through personal effort. The consciousness-raising here includes vignettes from the treatment rooms of the authors, who have helped many wealthy individuals and families deal with the fallout from the myths with which our culture burdens them. Specific guidelines on how to deal with problems are presented.
A simple guide to a smarter strategy for the individual investor A Wealth of Common Sense sheds a refreshing light on investing, and shows you how a simplicity-based framework can lead to better investment decisions. The financial market is a complex system, but that doesn't mean it requires a complex strategy; in fact, this false premise is the driving force behind many investors' market "mistakes." Information is important, but understanding and perspective are the keys to better decision-making. This book describes the proper way to view the markets and your portfolio, and show you the simple strategies that make investing more profitable, less confusing, and less time-consuming. Without the burden of short-term performance benchmarks, individual investors have the advantage of focusing on the long view, and the freedom to construct the kind of portfolio that will serve their investment goals best. This book proves how complex strategies essentially waste these advantages, and provides an alternative game plan for those ready to simplify. Complexity is often used as a mechanism for talking investors into unnecessary purchases, when all most need is a deeper understanding of conventional options. This book explains which issues you actually should pay attention to, and which ones are simply used for an illusion of intelligence and control. Keep up with—or beat—professional money managers Exploit stock market volatility to your utmost advantage Learn where advisors and consultants fit into smart strategy Build a portfolio that makes sense for your particular situation You don't have to outsmart the market if you can simply outperform it. Cut through the confusion and noise and focus on what actually matters. A Wealth of Common Sense clears the air, and gives you the insight you need to become a smarter, more successful investor.
"A former hedge-fund trader presents a memoir about coming of age on Wall Street, his obsessive pursuit of money, his disillusionment and the radical new way he has come to define success, "--NoveList
"The financial planning industry has grown into a massive factory -one that's definitely not designed to help you create the life you want ... Holcombe challenges you to think differently about your money ... learn how to avoid the traps of the financial factory ... be quipped to ask better questions of your financial advisor ... develop the instincts you need to avoid toxic advice"--Publisher's description.
Empire of the Fund is an exposé of the way we save now with proposals to fix it. The United States has embarked upon the riskiest experiment in our financial history: to see whether millions of ordinary, untrained citizens can successfully manage trillions of dollars in a system dominated by skilled and powerful financial institutions.
A “brilliant” (The Washington Post), “clear-eyed and incisive” (The New Republic) analysis of how the wealthiest group in American society is making life miserable for everyone—including themselves. In 21st-century America, the top 0.1% of the wealth distribution have walked away with the big prizes even while the bottom 90% have lost ground. What’s left of the American Dream has taken refuge in the 9.9% that lies just below the tip of extreme wealth. Collectively, the members of this group control more than half of the wealth in the country—and they are doing whatever it takes to hang on to their piece of the action in an increasingly unjust system. They log insane hours at the office and then turn their leisure time into an excuse for more career-building, even as they rely on an underpaid servant class to power their economic success and satisfy their personal needs. They have segregated themselves into zip codes designed to exclude as many people as possible. They have made fitness a national obsession even as swaths of the population lose healthcare and grow sicker. They have created an unprecedented demand for admission to elite schools and helped to fuel the dramatic cost of higher education. They channel their political energy into symbolic conflicts over identity in order to avoid acknowledging the economic roots of their privilege. And they have created an ethos of “merit” to justify their advantages. They are all around us. In fact, they are us—or what we are supposed to want to be. In this “captivating account” (Robert D. Putnam, author of Bowling Alone), Matthew Stewart argues that a new aristocracy is emerging in American society and it is repeating the mistakes of history. It is entrenching inequality, warping our culture, eroding democracy, and transforming an abundant economy into a source of misery. He calls for a regrounding of American culture and politics on a foundation closer to the original promise of America.
All of us have a money story. A story that we tell ourselves about what we can afford, what we should buy, why we shouldn't spend, and about the real power of money. But many of us never examine these money stories, which are the same stories that keep us living in chronic cycles of binge spending, money hoarding, and financial amnesia for our whole adult lives. These forms of financial dysfunction cripple us, erode our confidence, and leave us burdened by guilt, shame, and anxiety. They threaten to leave us financially and emotionally bankrupt if we don't learn how to break free from the chaos and heal our relationship with money for good. Fortunately, our relationship with money does not have to be a major source of stress in our lives. In fact, our relationship with money can actually be a source of joy and provide us with peace of mind once we learn how to care of it, listen to it, and respond to the messages it sends to us. heal your relationship with money guides you through 28 days of money lessons, financial introspection, and daily "lifework" to help you examine your financial past and connect with your true financial voice. The spiritual tools and financial guidance of heal your relationship with money allow you to rewrite your money narrative so it empowers you and transforms how you relate to your money life.
