America’s widening wealth gap has caused people like Warren Buffet to publicly say, “Rich people have too much money!” The United States is quickly becoming a nation with two distinct economic societies—the haves and the have-nots! The new economy also comes with a new set of rules. The number one rule is this: you’re on your own! However, you do have a choice. Take control of your personal finances and become a wealth builder, or keep doing what you’re doing. I hope that you choose the former. Let’s close America’s wealth gap. Either way, I’ll leave it up to you!

Simple and accessible strategies to build personal wealth and improve your life In Close Your Wealth Gap: Financial Lessons to Upgrade Your Life, veteran wealth manager Rob Luna delivers a collection of actionable lessons you can implement immediately to ensure you make the most of the money you make and retire comfortably. You’ll learn everything you need to know about generating personal wealth, from how to understand balance sheets and cash flow statements to constructing a personal portfolio that effectively balances risk and potential reward. The author explains the basics of maximizing your income with side hustles and passive income while, at the same time, increasing the impact of every dollar you earn. You’ll also find: Action plans for every stage of your life, including ways to prepare your children for a lifetime of financial independence and security Explanations of the difference between qualified and non-qualified accounts Strategies for avoiding “bad debt” while intelligently incurring—when necessary—good debt Perfect for young professionals, people with new families, and anyone else with a desire to live well and retire rich, Close Your Wealth Gap is an indispensable recipe for financial security that belongs on the bookshelves of people everywhere.

Afro-Latinos in the U.S. Economy outlines the current position and status of Afro-Latinxs in the economy of the United States. Very little research has thus far been disseminated in the field of economics on the contributions of Afro-Latinxs regarding income and wealth, labor market status, occupational mobility, and educational attainment. On the other hand, cultural studies, literary criticism, and social science fields have produced more research on Afro-Latinxs; the discipline of economics is, thus, significantly behind the curve in exploring the economic dimensions of this group. While the Afro-Latinx community constitutes a comparatively small segment of the U.S. population, and is often viewed as the nexus between two of the country’s largest minority groups—African Americans and Latinxs, who comprise 13 percent and 17 percent, respectively, of the U.S. population—Holder and Aja outline how the group’s unique economic position is different than non-black Latinxs. Despite possessing higher levels of education relative to the Latinx community as a whole, U.S. Afro-Latinxs do not experience expected returns in income and earnings, underscoring the role anti-Blackness plays in everyday life regardless of ancestral origin. The goal of this book is to provide a foundation in the economic dimensions of Afro-Latinxs in the U.S. which can be used to both complement and supplement research conducted on this group in other major disciplines. “

How our false narratives about post-racism and meritocracy have been used to condone egregious economic outcomes—and what we can do to fix the system. The Myth That Made Us exposes how false narratives—of a supposedly post-racist nation, of the self-made man, of the primacy of profit- and shareholder value-maximizing for businesses, and of minimal government interference—have been used to excuse gross inequities and to shape and sustain the US economic system that delivers them. Jeff Fuhrer argues that systemic racism continues to produce vastly disparate outcomes and that our brand of capitalism favors doing little to reduce disparities. Evidence from other developed capitalist economies shows it doesn’t have to be that way. We broke this (mean-spirited) economy. We can fix it. Rather than merely laying blame at the feet of both conservatives and liberals for aiding and abetting an unjust system, Fuhrer charts a way forward. He supplements evidence from data with insights from community voices and outlines a system that provides more equal opportunity to accumulate both human and financial capital. His key areas of focus include universal access to high-quality early childhood education; more effective use of our community college system as a pathway to stable employment; restructuring key aspects of the low-wage workplace; providing affordable housing and transit links; supporting people of color by serving as mentors, coaches, and allies; and implementing Baby Bonds and Reparations programs to address the accumulated loss of wealth among Black people due to the legacy of enslavement and institutional discrimination. Fuhrer emphasizes embracing humility, research-based approaches, and community involvement as ways to improve economic opportunity.

This book was written at a time when the world was in turmoil. COVID-19 was wreaking havoc throughout the world. People were confined to their homes to help stop the spread of the virus. Families were separated and economies shattered. However, in the midst of the gloom there were some hopeful signs. Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the USA. Among the first executive orders he issued were directives on racial justice and the USA rejoining the Paris Accord on Climate Change. His administration is currently implementing an economic package to provide relief to Americans suffering hardship because of the pandemic. These three examples are directly linked to the three pillars of sustainability addressed in this book: the physical environment, social issues, and economic justice. President Biden has clearly signalled that his administration will be committed to a sustainable planet–a marked and welcome departure from the policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump. Before the advent of Trump and the pandemic, the world was making progress in achieving Sustainability Development Goals established by the United Nations with the agreement of its members nations. However, it is unlikely that any of the 17 goals will be met by the 2030 deadline. Those goals represented minimum targets for the global environmental, economic, and social pillars that underpin a sustainable future for our planet. This book was written to gauge the views of a sample of political and business leaders from five countries on sustainability in order to determine if professional and national culture influenced their outlook.. It reports and analyzes the views of 41 business and political leaders from five countries: the USA, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, and Guyana. The leaders were interviewed, and the transcripts of those interviews were analyzed to identify themes. These were then weaved into an assessment of progress being made on the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG). In addition to primary data collected through the interviews, a review of the vast literature on sustainability-related issues allowed the author to present new data in consideration of progress being made in the quest for a sustainable future. It was not an easy task to arrange face-to-face interviews with leaders in five countries on three continents. However, the nature of the topic—sustainability—was of interest to the interviewees, and this paved the way for very interesting discussions. The weaving of the themes uncovered with the SDG hopefully will add to our understanding of what it would take to achieve a sustainable future for our planet.

This brief edition of a groundbreaking textbook addresses the need for college students to develop critical reading, writing, and thinking skills for self-defense in the contentious arena of American civic rhetoric. Designed for first-year or more advanced composition and critical thinking courses, it is one-third shorter than the original edition, more affordable for students, and easier for teachers to cover in a semester or quarter. It incorporates up-to-date new readings and analysis of controversies like the growing inequality of wealth in America and the debates in the 2008 presidential campaign, expressed in opposing viewpoints from the political left and right. Exercises help students understand the ideological positions and rhetorical patterns that underlie such opposing views. Widely debated issues of whether objectivity is possible and whether there is a liberal or conservative bias in news and entertainment media, as well as in education itself, are foregrounded as topics for rhetorical analysis.

Make the difference that politicians don't The always provocative Ellie Levenson is here to drive us into action. From building more affordable housing to lobbying for more ethical banking and clean drinking water for all, Ellie introduces 50 of the most pressing issues of the 21st century, explaining exactly why they are so important and why now is the time to get on your feet and be heard. She offers practical advice on involving politicians and other leaders, getting media interest, and planning events, and shares insights from top campaigners, including the Rwandan Genocide Survivor’s Fund, Oxfam, and the mental health charity Rethink, on how to make the leap from issue to action. Packed with rousing facts and insider tips, 50 Campaigns to Shout About is an indispensable resource for finding your voice and making a difference – whether your sights are set on the halls of government or closer to home.