Economic Inequality: The American Dream under Siege

Coral Celeste Frazer has an M.A. in sociology from Princeton University and a long-standing interest in issues of inequality, collective action, and social justice. She writes nonfiction and fiction for teens and adults, as well as reading comprehension items for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). She has lived in Colorado, Oregon, New Jersey, and Boston, and now resides in Norwich, England, with her husband and son.

"Frazer begins with a history of the American economy, from colonial times to the present. She then defines the extent of current inequalities and the consequences thereof, followed by a discussion of how and why inequality of opportunity is, more often than not, a self-fulfilling prophecy. Final chapters venture into the politics of economic policy and suggestions for citizen participation in the political process. Photos, graphs, charts, sidebars, and the back matter aid in understanding of social and economic concepts and issues. Fifteen of 17 source notes are from websites, such as the Huffington Post and opensecrets.org. The selected bibliography is comprised of 27 sources, 19 of which are websites. The earliest publication date is 2008, with the majority from 2013–17. It would be impossible to approach this topic without bias, particularly in the current polarized political climate, and the author's is subtle but left-leaning. Frazer does her best, however, to maintain balance throughout, using neutral language and carefully giving credence to both sides of the debate. She analyzes from a variety of viewpoints, including gender, race, and socioeconomic and educational levels, thus delving deeper than examining monetary status. VERDICT This is a valuable resource for young adults attempting to untangle the complexities of economics as well as claims and counterclaims in the political sphere."―School Library Journal

"This remarkably even-handed, lucid volume confidently leads readers through the murky world of wealth and economics in America. After laying out some basic concepts and key moments in economic history, Frazer dives into our current state of economic inequality, wherein a small number of individuals own the majority of the country's wealth, and government policies serve to help the rich get richer. There are a lot of moving parts, of course, but Frazer handily touches on a significant majority, including systemic poverty, racial discrimination, tax loopholes, wage gaps, corporate lobbying, the myth of the American dream, unions, campaign finance, bank deregulation, and voter suppression policies. Though her angle is clear―wealth inequality is a significant problem in America, and current policies are only serving to exacerbate it―she doesn't ignore opposing viewpoints, giving readers an opportunity to consider both sides. That said, her case is convincing and well supported by evidence, and she does an excellent job of offering concrete context for the dizzying stream of statistics and numbers, while encouraging readers to use critical thinking when considering political messaging. Though the message at times seems bleak, especially given how disproportionately wealth inequality affects young, college-bound Americans, she ends on a hopeful note with suggestions for getting involved as a consumer and citizen. Instructive, galvanizing nonfiction for a critical issue with widespread effects."―starred, Booklist

"The wheres, whys, and hows of economic inequality in the United States. This exemplary piece of introductory economics deserves a place in every middle and high school library across the land. Frazer has a bell-clear writing style, and the design is intriguing but not frenetic, with clear graphics and intuitive sidebar placement. After a brief but complete look at the roots of economic inequality―from the early American Colonial period through the Gilded Age and then unionization (one bright spot) to outsourcing and automation―Frazer proceeds to demonstrate the changes in wages and accumulation over the last half-century. Two chapters that cover the costs of inequality and limits to opportunities give Frazer a chance to explore the gender and racial aspects of wealth accumulation, especially how money makes money. Frazer keeps an even attitude but can't help but point a finger here and there: on trickle down: 'the wealthy tend to invest a relatively small percentage of their money in projects that hire American workers.' The importance of schooling and the burden of college debt lead to a sharp but balanced look at money and power―specifically government. The book concludes with points taken on redistribution, regulation, tax relief, reunionization, citizen action, and voting with your dollars. A fine example of taking the dismal science and making it everyday-usable and giving it a little vroom."―starred, Kirkus Reviews

5Q 3P J "Is the American dream accessible to all Americans? The gap between America's 'rich' and 'poor' continues to widen, becoming seemingly insurmountable. Providing a history of financial inequality from the colonial era to modern times, Economic Inequality presents a general discussion of money, taxes, and the role of government in a capitalist society, focusing primarily on the middle and lower classes. Evincing a fiscally liberal viewpoint, the author speaks plainly as she contrasts the relatively mild issues faced by the ultra-wealthy against the harrowing economic conditions and their consequences faced by women and various races. In a nation for all, argues the author, the uber-wealthy should not have an oversized influence.

Sociologist Frazer presents a meticulously researched and concise book on the history and effects of economic inequality in the United States, as well as possible solutions. In-text definitions flow seamlessly in this easy-to-grasp introduction to not only economic inequality, but also American economics in general, aided by a glossary in the back of the book. The author clearly depicts the human cost of escalating economic gaps―often a combination of social customs and laws―that prevent many Americans from saving money, getting an education, and escaping debt and poverty. With vibrant color photos and graphics, along with relevant primary source materials, Frazer empowers teens to help reduce economic inequality by becoming informed and involved in the political process. This book deserves a spot in all young adult nonfiction collections."―VOYA