Poverty, economic hardship &resilient families

Tom HirschlCaRDI Community Development

Institute, July 14/15, 2015

Components of the dream:

1. freedom to choose.2. exchange economic security for work3. optimism about future

Funnel Model of Achieving the American Dream

Source: Chasing the American Dream, p.158

How much economic security is there?

Economic security comes and goes like the tide, is fluid at the top and at the bottom– Over the course of one’s prime working years age

25 to 60, 79 percent of Americans will experience one or more years of economic insecurity

– Over the course of one’s prime working years age 25 to 60, 77 percent of Americans will experience one or more years of economic affluence (salary greater than $100,000 in 2009 dollars)

Source: Chasing the American Dream

Enduring intersection ofrace & social class (GIS)

Source: Chasing the American Dream

Implications of growing economic insecurity at top & bottom of income distribution

• Families, communities & governments are stressed

• Functional need for new policies, programs, & social cooperation