End of The Good Life: How the Financial Crisis Threatens a Lost Generation--and What We Can Do About It

Generation Y has been hit disproportionately hard by the financial crisis and subsequent Great Recession that is still rocking economies worldwide. Ushering in record levels of unemployment, significant debt, and the bleakest economic landscape in modern history, the Great Recession will have long-lasting social and economic effects - not only for those born between 1976 and 2000, but for their parents and children as well. Trapped by debt and joblessness, these young adults are postponing marriage, home-buying, and child-bearing. The American dream is moving farther and farther out of their reach. Drawing on extensive interviews with a wide range of these disheartened young adults, "The End of the Good Life" gives voice to those struggling in the new economy, both in America and around the world. A Brussels-based reporter with a global perspective, Riva Froymovitch offers unique insight into how the ongoing recession in Europe should serve as a cautionary tale for our own country. She deftly analyzes major issues facing European countries-protest movements resulting from mass youth unemployment in Spain, Greece, and the UK; Ireland's "brain drain" - and ineffective government responses. Froymovitch then examines those economies which have proven resilient throughout this storm, including Brazil and China, for potential solutions. "The End of the Good Life" goes beyond reportage to offer a clear-eyed look at US government policies that will wreak havoc on our nation's youth, including cuts to education and social programs, short-sighted initiatives to save failing industries, and a federal budget that prioritizes powerful lobbies over investing in our nation's future. Offering concrete policy suggestions as well as inspiring stories of young entrepreneurs carving out their own opportunities, "The End of the Good Life" is deeply relevant not just to Generation Y and their Baby Boomer parents, but to anyone who cares about America's future.