> the only two rich societies in the world with falling life expectancies, incomes, savings, happiness, trust — every single social indicator you can imagine —

> the only two rich societies in the world with falling life expectancies, incomes, savings, happiness, trust — every single social indicator you can imagine — are America and Britain Real median income is rising and has recovered since the '08 financial crisis [0]. The savings rate, a proxy for savings, is also increasing [1]. Happiness a bit more amorphous to measure; trust, I won't contest. An article like this is difficult to read without thinking of one's personal situation. And even so, it's hard to generalize the "average" American family's situation, since there is a wide variety of situations. > We’re not even capable of noticing — much less understanding — our twin collapse. It is abundantly clear to the "have nots" -- anyone not in the top 10 percent -- of what their financial situation looks like. > The average person is living right at the edge. Not at the edge of the middle class dream and an even better one. I'm in the top 10% by household income, and this rings true to me. There is no way I could balance housing costs, retirement, and childcare costs (no children currently, so the last expense is moot). Part of me wonders why I don't move to flyover country, have one-tenth the housing costs I currently do, and live an ignorant life. I could take my tech job with me, but I wouldn't need the salary. Working hard doesn't seem to get me to an even reasonable semblance of typical middle class life. Why subject myself to toiling for no marginal benefit? [0]: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEHOINUSA672N https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEHOINUSA672N [1]: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PSAVERT https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PSAVERT