The American dream vs. the gospel of wealth : the fight for a productive middle-class economy / Norton Garfinkle.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Garfinkle, Norton, 1931-

Series:

Future of American democracy.

The future of American democracy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Middle class--United States.

Middle class.

Supply-side economics--United States.

Supply-side economics.

Democracy--United States.

Democracy.

United States--Economic conditions.

United States.

United States--Economic policy.

Physical Description:

ix, 230 p. : ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

American dream versus the gospel of wealth

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Norton Garfinkle paints a disquieting picture of America today: a nation increasingly divided between economic winners and losers, a nation in which the middle-class American Dream seems more and more elusive. Recent government policies reflect a commitment to a new supply-side winner-take-all Gospel of Wealth. Garfinkle warns that this supply-side economic vision favors the privileged few over the majority of American citizens striving to better their economic condition.Garfinkle employs historical insight and data-based economic analysis to demonstrate compellingly the sharp departure of the supply-side Gospel of Wealth from an American ideal that dates back to Abraham Lincoln-the vision of America as a society in which ordinary, hard-working individuals can get ahead and attain a middle-class living, and in which government plays an active role in expanding opportunities and ensuring against economic exploitation. Supply-side economic policies increase economic disparities and, Garfinkle insists, they fail on technical, factual, moral, and political grounds. He outlines a fresh economic vision, consonant with the great American tradition of ensuring strong economic growth, while preserving the middle-class American Dream.

Contents:

The American economic vision

Lincoln's economics : the origin of the American dream

The gospel of wealth

The age of reform

The business of America is business

The renewal of the American dream

The new gospel of wealth

The current debate : supply-side vs. demand-side economics

The way forward.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [205]-219) and index.

ISBN:

9786611735241

9781281735249

1281735248

9780300137804

030013780X

OCLC:

1024008293