The Fickle Economy

Los Angeles Times reporter Peter G. Gosselin delves into an American paradox:

" Why so many families report being financially less secure even as the nation has grown more prosperous. The answer lies in a quarter-century-long shift of economic risks from the broad shoulders of business and government to the backs of working families. Safety nets that once protected Americans from economic turbulence - safeguards like unemployment compensation and employer loyalty - have eroded or vanished. Familes are more vulnerable to sudden shifts in the economy than any time since the Great Depression. The result is a daunting 'New Deal' for many working Americans - one that compels them to cope, largely on their own, with financial forces far beyond their control."