Using a wide variety of data on family incomes, taxes, wages, unemployment, wealth, and poverty, this book closely examines the impact of the economy on the living standards of the United States. An executive summary gives an overview of the economic realities that characterize the state of the working nation. Other introductory materials include…

Although U.S. policymakers have adopted the view that work is the solution to poverty, work may not ensure a decent standard of living for many families. This report estimates the number of families who are not making ends meet. It examines the cost of living in various communities in every state and determines "basic family budgets" for…

Numerous sources of data about family incomes, taxes, wages, unemployment, wealth, and poverty were used to analyze the impact of the economy on living standards in the United States in 1994-1995. It was discovered that most individuals in the United States are worse off in the 1990s than they were at the end of the 1970s. Between 1979 and 1989,…