The Library
The affordability crisis, explained.
Why a normal life got unaffordable — and what we do about it. Sourced explainers on housing, healthcare, childcare, wages, debt, and the American Dream.
CEO-to-Worker Pay: The 21-Lifetimes Problem
The CEO-to-worker pay ratio hit roughly 290-to-1 at big firms. It was about 20-to-1 in 1965. Here's what changed and why it matters.
The Case for a Living WageDoes Raising the Minimum Wage Cause Inflation?
Does raising the minimum wage cause inflation? The research says the effect is small. Here's what economists actually find — and what really drives prices.
Income & Wealth InequalityThe Wealth Gap in America: The Numbers
The wealth gap in America, by the numbers: the racial divide, the generational divide, and why half the country owns almost nothing.
Wages & Living WageLiving Wage Calculator: What You Need to Earn by State
A living wage calculator shows what you really need to earn to cover basics — and it's far above the $7.25 minimum wage. See the gap by state.
Wages & Living WageWage Stagnation: Why Pay Hasn't Kept Up Since the 1970s
Wage stagnation explains why working hard no longer pays off. Productivity soared since 1979; typical pay barely moved. Here's the data and the cause.
Income & Wealth InequalityWealth Inequality in America, Explained
Wealth inequality in America has reached extremes — the top 10% hold most of the wealth while half the country owns almost none. Here's the data.
Gen Z & MillennialsFinancial Stress: The #1 Driver of Young-Adult Anxiety
Financial stress and mental health are deeply linked. Money worry is a top source of anxiety for young adults — and the causes are structural, not personal.
Gen Z & MillennialsGen Z Isn't Lazy — The System Changed
Is Gen Z lazy? The data says no. Wages flattened, costs exploded, and the rules of getting ahead changed. Here's what actually happened.
Gen Z & MillennialsWhy So Many Young Adults Live With Their Parents
Young adults living with parents hit a multi-decade high. The reason isn't laziness — it's rent, wages, and debt. Here's the data and what it means.
Gen Z & MillennialsThe State of Gen Z Finances in 2026
Gen Z finances in 2026: high debt, stalled wages, locked-out housing. Here's the data on a generation's money — and why it's stuck.
Gen Z & MillennialsWhy Gen Z and Millennials Can't Get Ahead
Why can't Gen Z get ahead? Wages stalled while housing, tuition, and debt exploded. The data behind a generation running in place.
Gen Z & MillennialsWhy Millennials Can't Afford the Life Their Parents Had
Why can't millennials afford anything? The same effort that bought a house in 1985 buys rent now. Here's the data on a vanished deal.
Saving & RetirementHow Much Do You Actually Need to Retire?
How much do I need to retire? Common guidance lands near $1.1–1.5M — but median savings fall far short. Here's the real math.
Saving & RetirementWhy Can't I Save Money? It's Not Just You
Why can't I save money? Because fixed costs ate the budget. Over 60% live paycheck to paycheck — here's the systemic reason.
Saving & RetirementWill Gen Z Ever Be Able to Retire?
Will Gen Z be able to retire? Starting later with more debt and no pensions, the math is brutal. Here's what the numbers say.
Saving & RetirementGenerational Wealth: Why the Ladder Got Pulled Up
Generational wealth used to be reachable on one income. Here's why the ladder got pulled up — and what the wealth gap data really shows.
Student Debt & EducationIs College Still Worth It?
Is college worth it? On average a degree still pays — but rising debt shrank the margin. Here's the honest math by the numbers.
Student Debt & EducationCollege Costs Rose 1,200% Since 1980
Tuition inflation ran over 1,200% since 1980 — far past general prices. Here's why college outran wages and what it did to a generation.
Everyday CostsThe Average Car Payment Is Now $700+
The average new car payment is now $730+ a month. Here's why car costs exploded, what it means for working budgets, and why it's a wage story.
Everyday CostsGrocery Prices: Why Your Cart Costs More
Grocery prices jumped roughly 25% since 2019 while wages lagged. Here's why your cart costs more — and why it isn't your spending.
Childcare & Family CostsWhy Is Childcare So Expensive?
Why is childcare so expensive? It's labor with mandated ratios — most of the cost is wages. Here's the real economics, and why families and workers both lose.
Healthcare & Medical DebtWhat to Do When You Can't Afford Healthcare
Can't afford healthcare? You're not failing — the system is. Here's what's driving the cost, what options exist, and why it's really a wage problem.
Childcare & Family CostsThe Cost of Childcare Is Breaking Families
The cost of childcare now rivals a mortgage — $10,000 to $17,000+ per child a year. Here's why it's breaking working families, and what would fix it.
Childcare & Family CostsThe Cost of Raising a Child Is Now $300K+
The cost of raising a child now runs $300,000+ to age 18, before college. Here's the breakdown by category — and why a paycheck no longer covers it.
Healthcare & Medical DebtThe Real Cost of Health Insurance in 2026
The cost of health insurance now averages around $25,000 a year for a family. Here's what's behind the bill — and why coverage still leaves you exposed.
Healthcare & Medical DebtMedical Bankruptcy: How Illness Bankrupts Americans
Medical bankruptcy is a uniquely American outcome. See how a hospital bill plus lost income wipes out households — and why it's really a wage problem.
Healthcare & Medical DebtMedical Debt: America's Quiet Catastrophe
Medical debt burdens about 100 million Americans and totals roughly $220 billion. Here's how illness became a financial sentence — and why it's a wage story.
Housing & HomeownershipCan't Afford Rent? You're Not Alone
Can't afford rent? Half of U.S. renters are cost-burdened. The data shows why rent broke away from wages, and why it isn't your fault.
Housing & HomeownershipThe Homeownership Gap Between Generations
The homeownership gap between generations is real and widening. See how Gen Z and millennials fell behind boomers at the same age — and why.
Housing & HomeownershipSaving for a Down Payment on a Broken Market
Saving for a down payment now takes a decade on a median income. Here's the real math on why the down payment moved out of reach — and what changed.
Housing & HomeownershipThe Housing Affordability Crisis
Housing affordability hit its worst level in decades. Prices, rates, and rents all outran wages. Here's the data on how deep the crisis runs.
Housing & HomeownershipHow Much Rent Can You Actually Afford?
How much rent can I afford? The 30% rule says one thing; the real math says another. Here's what's affordable, and why the rule keeps breaking.
Housing & HomeownershipThe Death of the Starter Home
The starter home is going extinct. Builders stopped making small, cheap houses, and the first rung of the ownership ladder vanished. The data.
The Affordability CrisisWhat State Has the Lowest Cost of Living?
What state has the lowest cost of living? Mississippi and the South lead, driven by cheap housing. The real catch: lower costs, lower wages.
The Affordability CrisisCost of Living by City: Where a Dollar Goes Furthest
Cost of living by city: where a dollar stretches and where it vanishes. The gap between expensive and affordable metros — and what drives it.
Housing & HomeownershipWhy Are Houses So Expensive?
Why are houses so expensive? A decade of underbuilding, higher rates, and wages that didn't keep up. The data behind the housing affordability gap.
The Affordability CrisisAm I Middle Class? The Math Has Changed
Am I middle class? The income line moved, and the lifestyle it used to buy didn't follow. Here's the data on what middle class really means now.
The Affordability CrisisHow to Beat the High Cost of Living
How to beat the high cost of living: the moves that actually move the needle, and why budgeting alone can't close a structural gap. The data.
The Affordability CrisisWhy Is the Cost of Living So High?
Why is the cost of living so high? Wages flatlined while housing, healthcare, and childcare broke away from inflation. Here's the data behind it.
The Affordability Crisis'I Can't Afford to Live': The New American Reality
Can't afford to live on a normal income? You're not imagining it. The data shows why a full-time paycheck no longer covers a basic life.
The Case for a Living WageDid Trump Raise the Minimum Wage? The Record
Did Trump raise the minimum wage? The federal floor stayed $7.25 the whole time. Here's the actual record — and why no recent president changed it.
Support & Take ActionHow to Help People in Poverty (Beyond Donating Food)
How to help people in poverty in ways that last — beyond a food drive. The highest-leverage actions target the wages and costs that cause it.
Wages & Living WageWhat Is a Living Wage for a Single Person?
What is a living wage for a single person? The MIT Living Wage Calculator usually puts it above $20/hour — far above the $7.25 federal minimum.
The Case for a Living WageMinimum Wage Pros and Cons: An Honest Look
Minimum wage pros and cons, weighed honestly. The strongest arguments on both sides — and what the latest research actually shows about jobs and prices.
The Case for a Living WageWhy Is There So Much Poverty in America?
Why is there so much poverty in a rich country? The answer isn't laziness — it's wages that fell behind costs while a record economy grew.
Wages & Living WageDo Dollar Tree Employees Make a Living Wage?
Do Dollar Tree employees make a living wage? Run the numbers against the MIT Living Wage Calculator — the gap is wide, and it's not unique to one chain.
Wages & Living WageIs the Minimum Wage a Living Wage? Here's the Math
Is minimum wage a living wage? Run the math: $7.25/hour is about $15,000 a year — below the cost of a one-bedroom apartment almost everywhere.
Wages & Living WageLiving Paycheck to Paycheck in America
Living paycheck to paycheck isn't rare — surveys put 60%+ of Americans there, including high earners. Here's why, with real numbers and sources.
Saving & RetirementAverage Savings by Age: How Do You Compare?
Average savings by age, with real Federal Reserve numbers. See how you compare — and why the medians are far lower than the averages suggest.
Wages & Living WageLiving Wage vs Minimum Wage: What's the Difference?
Living wage vs minimum wage: one is a legal floor, the other is what life actually costs. Here's the gap, with real numbers and sources.
Everyday CostsWhy Is Food So Expensive?
Why is food so expensive? Grocery prices jumped ~25% in four years while wages lagged. Here's what's really driving the cost of your cart.
Childcare & Family CostsAverage Cost of Daycare by State
The average cost of daycare runs $10,000–$17,000+ per child a year — more than college tuition in many states. See the numbers and why childcare costs this much.
Everyday CostsWhy Are Cars So Expensive Now?
Why are cars so expensive now? Average new-car payments hit $730+ a month. The real reasons — prices, rates, and longer loans — and why it strains every budget.
Healthcare & Medical DebtWhy Is Healthcare So Expensive in America?
Why is healthcare so expensive in America? The real reasons — pricing, admin costs, and a system built around profit. The data behind $25,000 family premiums.
Housing & HomeownershipWhat It Means to Be House Poor (and How to Avoid It)
House poor means owning a home that eats most of your income. Learn the warning signs, the real numbers, and why so many buyers fall into the trap.
Housing & HomeownershipHow to Afford a House in 2026
How to afford a house in 2026 when median homes cost 5x income. The real numbers on down payments, income needed, and why the system makes it this hard.
Housing & HomeownershipIs Buying a House Still Worth It?
Is buying a house worth it in 2026? The honest math on building equity vs. renting when homes cost 5x income and rates near 6–7%. What the data actually shows.
The Affordability CrisisThe Cost of Living Crisis: What's Really Happening
The cost of living crisis explained with real data: rent, groceries, healthcare and childcare outpacing wages. Why your paycheck covers less every year.
The Affordability CrisisThe American Standard of Living Is Slipping
The American standard of living is slipping — measured in homeownership, savings, and what a paycheck buys. The data on how a normal life moved out of reach.
Housing & HomeownershipWhy Gen Z Can't Afford Homes
Why Gen Z can't afford homes: median prices hit 5x income while wages stalled. The data on why young buyers are locked out — and whether it can change.
The Affordability CrisisThe Affordability Crisis in America, Explained
The affordability crisis explained: housing, healthcare, childcare and college all outran wages for 40 years. Here's the data on why life costs more than work pays.
The Affordability CrisisIs the American Dream Dead?
Is the American Dream dead? The data on mobility, wages, and home prices says it's on life support. Here's what changed — and what it means for you.
The Affordability CrisisWhy Is Everything So Expensive? The Real Reasons
Why is everything so expensive? The honest answer: prices rose faster than wages for 40 years. Here's the data — and what it means for you.