Policy Press

The Squeezed Middle

The Pressure on Ordinary Workers in America and Britain

Edited by Sophia Parker

Published

Jan 16, 2013

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1447308935

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jan 16, 2013

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1447308942

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jan 16, 2013

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1447309512

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jan 16, 2013

Page count

184 pages

ISBN

978-1447309529

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
The Squeezed Middle

As wages stagnate but living costs keep rising, the pressure on working

people grows more intense. The issue of living standards has become one of

the most urgent challenges for politicians in both Britain and America.

'The squeezed middle' brings together experts from both sides of the Atlantic

to ask what the UK can learn from the US. American workers have not

benefited from growth for an entire generation - the average American worker

earned no more in 2009 than in 1975. Now British workers are undergoing a

similar experience. No longer can they assume that when the economy grows

their wages will grow with it.

This collection brings together for the first time leading economic and

policy thinkers to analyse the impact of different policies on those on

low-to middle incomes and to explain what lessons the UK can learn from

America's 'lost generation'.

This timely book is essential reading for everyone concerned about the

living standards crisis, an issue which could decide elections as well as

shaping the future for millions of working families.

Sophia Parker is an Associate at the Resolution Foundation, having previously been the Director of Policy and Research. This book is the product of a year-long visiting fellowship at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 2010/11. Sophia has over a decade's experience in the field of UK social policy, in particular the issues around low income households and living standards.

The Resolution Foundation is an independent think tank working to improve the lives of people living on low to middle incomes.

Foreword by Gavin Kelly and Jared Bernstein; Introduction ~ Sophia Parker; Section 1: Setting the scene: a rising tide no longer lifts all boats; A lost decade, not a burst bubble: the declining living standards of middle-class households in the US and Britain ~ Larry Mishel and Heidi Shierholz; Rising incomes and modest inequality: the high employment route ~ Lane Kenworthy; Section 2: Policy lessons: creating quality work, raising incomes and building greater economic security; Improving job quality in low-paid jobs: care workers in the US ~ Eileen Appelbaum and Carrie Leana; Employment change and economic vulnerability in the US ~ Francoise Carre and James Heintz; New evidence and new directions for promoting labour market advancement for low and modest earners ~ Jim Riccio; Boosting the pay packets of low- to middle-income families ~ Daniel P. Gitterman; Strategies to expand the affordable private rental stock ~ Keith Wardrip; Insulating middle-income households from economic insecurity: why savings matter, and how we can increase them ~ Joanna Smith-Ramani and Preeti Mehta; Section 3: Looking ahead: a cautionary tale; The path to post-recession prosperity ~ Tamara Draut; How US politics is undermining the American Dream, and what it means for the UK ~ Jacob S. Hacker; Conclusion: learning the lessons ~ Vidhya Alakeson.