The American economy has faced significant challenges over the past 50 years. The period from 1975 to 1995 experienced difficulties with wages, and the subsequent 15 years were marred by the financial crisis of 2007-2009. There was a brief period of about a decade from 1995 to 2005 when things were relatively good, despite the dot com meltdown and jobless recovery. The economy rebounded in the years following the financial crisis, with 2014-2019 being described as the ideal situation by the speaker, characterized by low unemployment, stable inflation, and healthy wage growth. The goal now is to recreate this favorable economic scenario.
The American Dream – the idea that anyone can achieve success in the U.S. through hard work and determination – is under scrutiny, and some worry it’s no longer achievable for the broader population. Those who agree say increasing healthcare, education, and housing costs create difficulty in having financial stability. Those who disagree argue that the U.S. still offers more opportunities for personal and financial growth than elsewhere. Now we debate: Is the American Dream in Decline?
Arguing Yes: David Leonhardt, Pulitzer Prize-winning Senior Writer for The New York Times and The Morning; Author of “Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream”
Arguing No: Michael Strain, Political Economy Scholar and Director of Economic Policy Studies at American Enterprise Institute; Author of “The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It)”
Nayeema Raza, Journalist at New York Magazine and Vox, is the guest moderator.
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