Lynne Thoman

And Senator Bernie Saunders has said, and I quote, American workers are some of the most overworked, yet our standard of living has fallen. For many, the American dream has become a nightmare, unquote. This pessimistic view is pervasive. What do the data and the facts actually show about American workers and families? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways.

And Senator Bernie Saunders has said, and I quote, American workers are some of the most overworked, yet our standard of living has fallen. For many, the American dream has become a nightmare, unquote. This pessimistic view is pervasive. What do the data and the facts actually show about American workers and families? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways.

On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today, I'm excited to be with Michael Strain.

On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today, I'm excited to be with Michael Strain.

He is currently a professor at Georgetown University and director of economic policy at AEI, as well as a columnist for Project Syndicate. He has previously worked at both the Federal Reserve Bank and the Census Bureau. His research and writing span a wide range of areas, including labor and social policy. His most recent book is The American Dream Is Not Dead.

He is currently a professor at Georgetown University and director of economic policy at AEI, as well as a columnist for Project Syndicate. He has previously worked at both the Federal Reserve Bank and the Census Bureau. His research and writing span a wide range of areas, including labor and social policy. His most recent book is The American Dream Is Not Dead.

He is the perfect person to ask about how American workers and families are actually doing. Welcome, Mike, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.

He is the perfect person to ask about how American workers and families are actually doing. Welcome, Mike, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.

It is my pleasure. Is today's economy delivering for American workers?

It is my pleasure. Is today's economy delivering for American workers?

So, Mike, how have workers and families done over the last 10 or 20 years?

So, Mike, how have workers and families done over the last 10 or 20 years?

That's great. There are clearly areas of challenges, but overall, it sounds like workers and families have been doing much better.

That's great. There are clearly areas of challenges, but overall, it sounds like workers and families have been doing much better.

What's happened to the broader quality of life? Has it improved significantly for typical households over the past one or two decades?

What's happened to the broader quality of life? Has it improved significantly for typical households over the past one or two decades?

A surprising fact to me is that the combination of a shorter work week, more paid time off and longer retirement means that the fraction of people's lives taken up by work has fallen by 25 percent since 1960. That's huge.

A surprising fact to me is that the combination of a shorter work week, more paid time off and longer retirement means that the fraction of people's lives taken up by work has fallen by 25 percent since 1960. That's huge.

Mike, what's happened to households in the bottom 20 percent? How have they done?

Mike, what's happened to households in the bottom 20 percent? How have they done?