The Rise and Fall of the American Middle Class

The video explores the evolution of employment relations and economic strategies from post-WWII to the present. It discusses the shift from stable, lifelong employment to a focus on financialization and shareholder value, highlighting the phases of rationalization, marketization, and globalization. The impact of stock buybacks and executive compensation on income distribution and the middle class is examined, emphasizing the need for innovative corporate strategies.

What impact did financialization have on the middle class?

What are the consequences of the shift from retaining and reinvesting to downsizing and distributing?

In what ways did the ideology of maximizing shareholder value influence corporate behavior?

How do executive compensation structures relate to stock buybacks?