The American middle class is shrinking and, contrary to popular belief, globalization and automation are not to blame. Far from inevitable, skyrocketing inequality is a choice. In this episode, we look at the policy choices that have relentlessly undermined the middle class, and why we desperately need to choose a better future.

Heather Boushey: Executive director and chief economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. Author of Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict.

Twitter: @HBoushey

Matthew Stewart: Philosopher, D.Phil from Oxford University. Author of Nature’s God and The Management Myth. Contributor to The Atlantic.

Website: https://mwstewart.com/

Further reading:

(1) http://evonomics.com/new-social-security-system-sharing-economy-hanauer/

(2) https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/11/overtime-pay-obama-congress-112954

This post was originally published on Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer.