The SQUEEZE: The American economy foundered in 2008. Financial historians, scholars, and critics believe that Wall Street bankers hold the most culpability. However, Robert B. Reich argues against this notion. In Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future, Reich argues that there are two major contributors to the 2008 financial crisis: the concentration of wealth in the possession of the richest Americans and stagnant wages. Reich also believes that rising costs have made it next to impossible for the American middle class to keep up with demands and have subsequently entered multiple cycles of debt. With this in mind, Reich outlines the problems and current issues facing the U.S. economy, offering a blueprint to help rebuild the nation. Using historical evidence, Reich offers recommendations for structural reforms and proposals to increase consumer purchasing, tax the rich, and create a wage insurance program. Reich’s Aftershock is a must-read for economists, corporations, and the wealthiest Americans.

Notable Endorsement: “A good read. . . . [Reich] provides a thoughtful dialogue about the structural problems that led to the recent recession. . . . His ideas are worth exploring.”—The Washington Post

Common Q’s Answered by this Book:

• What are the causes of the current economic crisis?
• What is the current percentage of wealth held by the richest Americans?
• What are the current economic conditions of the U.S. middle class?
• What is the blueprint for rebuilding and restoring the American economy?
• Who are the Keynesian forerunners?

About the Author: Robert B. Reich is an American political economist. Reich is also a professor, author, and political commentator. Reich has served under three major presidential administrations: Ford, Carter, and Clinton. Reich is currently a public policy professor at the University of California at Berkeley. Reich was a former professor with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Reich has also served as a professor of social economic policy with the Heller School for Social Policy and Management located on the Brandeis University campus. Reich’s opinions have been published in multiple media outlets, which include The American Prospect, The New Republic, Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Reich’s current responsibilities include serving as an economic transition adviser under the Obama Administration. Reich completed an A.B. at Dartmouth College; Rhodes Scholarship studies at Oxford University; and a J.D. from Yale Law School. For more information, visit: robertreich.org.

Book Vitals:

Publisher: Vintage (April 2011)