From Democracy, a special section on the “middle-out moment” and the alternative to supply-side economics. Why can’t America be Sweden? Thomas B. Edsall wonders. The introduction to Political Bubbles: Financial Crises and the Failure of American Democracy by Nolan McCarty, Keith T. Poole and Howard Rosenthal. Robert Shiller on the high cost of unemployment: It hurts the morale of a nation’s citizens, and austerity is no solution. Maeve McKeown reviews Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America by Martin Gilens. Everyone always talks about the welfare state — but to understand who really wields power in Washington and what they actually want, you need to understand the tax break state. Who killed equality? Ezra Klein on the main schools of thought on income inequality. Nick Hanauer on the capitalist’s case for a $15 minimum wage. Paul Krugman on Greg Mankiw and the Gatsby Curve (and more by Jonathan Chait). RIP, American Dream? Matthew O’Brien on why it's so hard for the poor to get ahead today. Marcus O'Reilly on 5 scary myths you probably believe about the economy.
