Making Ends Meet: Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Soaring Costs
MAKING ENDS MEET
Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Soaring Costs
Introduction: The New Economic Reality
Chapter 1: The Economic Landscape - Why Everything Costs More
The Inflation Reality
Housing: The Biggest Line Item
The Rising Cost of Basics
The Wage-Price Disconnect
Coping Strategies
Perception vs. Reality
The Long View
Chapter 2: Who Is Struggling? A Demographic Breakdown
Age and Financial Wellbeing
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Educational Divides
Geographic Divides
The Parents' Penalty
Disability and Financial Vulnerability
Income Inequality and the Middle Class Squeeze
Chapter 3: The Unemployment Crisis - Who's Out of Work?
The Current Unemployment Picture
Unemployment by Age Group
Racial Disparities in Unemployment
Youth Unemployment by Race
Gender Differences
The Duration of Unemployment
Underemployment and Discouraged Workers
Industry-Specific Challenges
The Skills Gap
Geographic Variation in Unemployment
Chapter 4: The Bank of Mom and Dad - Multi-Generational Financial Support
The Scale of Parental Support
Who Receives Support
What Types of Support Are Provided
Living with Parents: The New Normal
Contributing While Living at Home
The Impact on Parents' Finances
Young Adults Supporting Parents
The Psychological Impact
Cultural and Historical Context
Implications for the Broader Economy
Chapter 5: Future Jobs for Future Generations
The Scale of Coming Change
The Fastest-Growing Jobs
The Fastest-Declining Jobs
The Skills of the Future
Demographic Drivers of Job Growth
The Green Transition
The AI Revolution
The Rise of Gig and Platform Work
What Gen Alpha Might Expect
Strategies for Career Resilience
Conclusion: Strategies for Survival and Success
Individual Strategies
Family Strategies
Policy Considerations
Reasons for Hope
A Final Word
References and Data Sources
Related Subjects
ReferenceCustomer Reviews
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
