Economic Apartheid In America: A Primer On Economic Inequality & Insecurity

by Chuck Collins, Felice Yeskel, United Economy (Compiler)

Overview

This updated edition of the widely touted Economic Apartheid in America looks at the causes and manifestations of wealth disparities in the United States, including tax policy in light of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and recent corporate scandals.

Published with two leading organizations dedicated to addressing economic inequality, the book looks at recent changes in income and wealth distribution and examines the economic policies and shifts in power that have fueled the growing divide.

Praised by Sojurners as “a clear blueprint on how to combat growing inequality,” Economic Apartheid in America provides “much-needed groundwork for more democratic discussion and participation in economic life” (Tikkun). With “a wealth of eye-opening data” (The Beacon) focusing on the decline of organized labor and civic institutions, the battle over global trade, and the growing inequality of income and wages, it argues that most Americans are shut out of the discussion of the rules governing their economic lives. Accessible and engaging and illustrated throughout with charts, graphs, and political cartoons, the book lays out a comprehensive plan for action.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781595587312
Publisher:	New Press, The
Publication date:	05/10/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	254
Sales rank:	666,037
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

United for a Fair Economy (UFE) challenges the concentration of wealth and power that corrupts democracy, deepens the racial divide and tears communities apart. UFE uses popular economics education, trainings, and creative communications to support social movements working for a resilient, sustainable and equitable economy. Economic Apartheid in America: A Primer on Economic Inequality and Insecurity (The New Press) looks at recent changes in income and wealth distribution, examining the economic policies and shifts in power that have fueled the growing divide and laying out a comprehensive plan for action.

Chuck Collins is senior program developer at United for a Fair Economy, a senior fellow at Class Action, and the author of several books. He is a co-founder of UFE and Responsible Wealth. He lives in Massachusetts.

Felice Yeskel is the co-director of Class Action and a faculty member in the Social Justice Education Program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is a co-founder of UFE and Responsible Wealth. She lives Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledcments	vii
	Foreword	ix
	Introduction: Economic Boom for Whom?	1
	The Amazing U.S. Economy?	1
	Warning: Entering New Global Economy--Proceed with Caution	4
	The Trends: Rising Tide, Sinking Boats	6
	We Can Build a Fairer Economy	7
	About the Book	9
1.	The Dangerous Consequences of Crowing Inequality	13
	Pressures Facing Our Households	14
	Inequality and the Threat to Prosperity	25
	Inequality and Democracy	28
	Inequality and Public Health	31
	Social Polarization and the Withdrawal of the Haves	32
	You Are on Your Own: The New Individualism	35
	Gated Communities and Bigger Prisons	37
2.	The Picture: Crowing Economic Insecurity and Inequality
	The Inequality of Income and Wages	39
	Race, Gender, and Income	43
	The Gap Between Highest and Average Wage Earners	46
	The Inequality of Wealth	52
	What Is Wealth and Why Is It Important?	52
	The Concentration of Wealth	54
	The Myth of Who Owns Assets	58
	The Wealth-Holders	59
	Global Inequality	61
	The Champagne Glass Global Distribution of Income	63
3.	The Causes of Inequality	68
	Why Has Inequality Grown?	68
	A Power Shift	69
	Money Power in Our Democracy	70
	The Rise in Concentrated Corporate Power	74
	The Attack on Worker Rights	81
	Decline in the Influence of the Civic Sector	86
	Decline in Independent Politics	88
	The Rules Governing the Economy	90
	Global Trade and Investment Policy	90
	Taxation	100
	The Restructuring of Work and the Breakdown in the Social Contract	108
	Regulation and Deregulation	114
	Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy	116
	Government Social Spending, the Safety Net, and Corporate Welfare	119
	The Culture of Greed vs. the Common Good	124
4.	Building a Fair Economy Movement	127
	The Tradition of Taking Action to Reduce Inequality	128
	Movement Building	131
	Stages of Social Movements	132
Phase 1	Cultural Preparation and Organization	134
Phase 2	Building Public Support	135
Phase 3	Consolidation	136
	Building a Movement Infrastructure	136
	Strategy: What Policies Are We For?	138
5.	Actions to Close the Economic Divide
	Building a Real Democracy	145
	Building Workers' Power	145
	Removing the Influence of Big Money from Our Democracy	152
	Building Independent Politics	157
	Reining in Corporate Power	160
	Changing the Rules to Build a Fair Economy	171
	Global Trade and Investment Rules	171
	Reducing Wage Inequality	181
	Reducing Wealth Inequality	189
	Fair Taxation	192
	Fighting Corporate Welfare	201
	Reforming Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve	206
	Alternatives for a Fair Economy	208
	Conclusion	213
Appendix	We Are United for a Fair Economy	215
	Further Reading	219
	Notes	221