Fragile Middle Class : Americans in Debt

From 1997 to 2000, the number of Amer. families filing for federal bankruptcy annually exceeded one million. Those who file are members of the middle-class (MC) -- a group that has long provided stability & vitality for the Amer. economic system. Why are unprecedented numbers of Amer. encountering such serious financial trouble? The authors analyzed court records & demographic data on thousands of bankruptcy cases, as well as debtors' own accounts of the reasons for their bankruptcies. For many MC Amer., financial stability is fragile -- almost any setback can be disastrous. The authors view the bankruptcy process in the light of changing cultural & economic factors & consider what this may signify for the future of a large, secure, & dynamic MC.Sullivan, Teresa A. is the author of 'Fragile Middle Class : Americans in Debt', published 2006 under ISBN 9781422353592 and ISBN 1422353591.