Böcker av Jared Bernstein

As the new century unfolds, we face a host of economic and social challenges - - jobs lost to ''''''''off shoring,'''''''' a huge and growing number of Americans without health insurance coverage, an expanding gap between rich and poor, stagnant wages, decaying public schools, and many others. These are difficult and complex problems, but our government's strategy for dealing with them has been essentially not to deal with them at all. Over and over, in subtle and not - so - subtle ways, we're told that we're on our own - - ''''''''Here's a tax cut and a private account; now go fend for yourself.'''''''' As Jared Bernstein points out, this approach doesn't make any sense as a strategy for solving the enormous systemic problems we face. It's just a way of shifting economic risk from those most able to bear it - - the government and the nation's corporations - - to those least able: individuals and families. The result has been greater wealth for the top 1% of Americans and stagnant living standards and increasing insecurity for the vast majority. In All Together Now, Bernstein outlines a new strategy, one that applauds individual initiative but recognizes that the problems we face as a nation can be solved only if we take a more collaborative approach. The message is simple: we're all in this together. Bernstein draws on recent and historic events to explore how the proponents of what he dubs the YOYO (you're - on - your - own) approach have sold the idea, exposing the fallacies and ulterior motives in their arguments as well as the disasterous consequences of their policies. More importantly, he details practical WITT (we're - in - this - together) initiatives in specific areas like globalization, health care, and employment that could improve the lives of millions of Americans without increasing overall national spending. And he offers advice on how to overcome objections to the WITT agenda and bring the country together so that both risks and benefits are shared more fairly. While the prevailing philosophy insists that all we can do is cope with massive social forces, each of us on our own, Bernstein argues that we can unite and shape these forces to meet our needs. The optimistic message of All Together Now is that the economic challenges we face are not insoluble; we can wield the tools of government to meet them in such a way as to build a more just and equitable society.

Drawing on data on family income, taxes, wages, employment, wealth, health care and poverty, this text presents a statistical portrait of the standard of living of America's working families. This updated edition includes a new chapter on health care costs and reform efforts.

Drawing on a variety of data on family incomes, taxes, wages, employment, wealth, health care and poverty, this text provides a portrait of the living standards of Americans in the mid-1990s. It contains up-to-date data from the US Census.

In this lively and irreverent tour through everyday economic mysteries, premier economist Jared Bernstein helps readers decode economic "analysis", navigate through murky ethical quandaries, and make sound economic decisions that reflect their deepest aspirations for themselves, their families, and their country.Chances are, if there's a stumper you've always wanted to ask an economist, it's solved in this book. Think of it as a chance to hang out with someone who likes to tackle everyday mysteries and promises to try to answer you straight, no jargon allowed. So go ahead: fire away. You - and your fellow citizens - will be glad you asked.

All Together Now presents an alternative vision, one which applauds individual freedom but emphasizes such freedoms are best realised with a more collectivist approach to public policy. The message is simple: we're all in this together.Bernstein's book walks the reader though the history of our shift toward extreme individualism. His chapters describe the political and economic forces that have pushed us away from more collective thinking and action, and they elaborate the problems this transition has engendered. Having exposed the significant societal costs associated with the shift, the book introduces a new way of thinking about government and social policy (or, more accurately, re-introduces an old way): the power of collective action. In these pages, readers will find a welcome alternative, a new way to tap our "better selves" to meet the challenges we all face-together.