It’s been ten years since the Great Recession reared its ugly head, lurching the country into a state of economic crisis.
This hour, we look back and ask: What effect did the downturn have on the American public? And how did it come to reshape perceptions of the so-called ‘American dream’?
We check in with a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center. We also sit down with experts in the fields of economics and sociology. And we want to hear from you.
Whether you’re an immigrant or a native-born citizen, what do the words American dream mean to you? Is the answer to that question more or less clear now than it was a decade ago?
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
GUESTS:
- Richard Fry - Senior Researcher at the Pew Research Center (@r_fry1)
- Michael Hout - Professor of Sociology at New York University (@MikeHoutNY)
- John Lettieri - Co-Founder and President of the Economic Innovation Group (@LettieriDC)
- Emanuela Palmares - Vice President of The New American Dream Foundation (@EmanuelaforCT)
READING LIST:
Pew Research Center: Gen X rebounds as the only generation to recover the wealth lost after the housing crash - "But while the economic downturn had a disproportionately negative impact on Gen Xers, their fortunes have rebounded more than those of other generations during the post-recession economic expansion and as home and stock prices have risen."
Vox: Getting ahead in the city is hard. In rural America, it's even harder. - "'There are certain type of cities, if you’re poor, you definitely want to be there,' says John Lettieri, EIG’s senior director for policy and strategy. 'But in general, the divide between city and rural opportunity is definitely becoming more stark.'"
The Wall Street Journal: Parents' Jobs Increasingly Shape How Far Kids Get in Life - "Just over half of Americans born in the 1980s have ended up with better jobs than their parents, according to an article by New York University sociology professor Michael Hout in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.' That’s down from two-thirds of people born in the 1940s."
For more on The New American Dream Foundation's American Dream Awards, click here.
Chion Wolf contributed to this show.
