Happiness for All? Unequal Hopes in Today’s America | Dr. Carol Graham

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Carol Graham, Senior Fellow in the Economic Studies Program at Brookings, College Park Professor at the University of Maryland, and Senior Scientist at Gallup, about the core arguments of her book Happiness for All? Unequal Hopes and Lives in Pursuit of the American Dream. Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Graham explains how declining intergenerational mobility, the erosion of stable working-class jobs, and the rise of “destructive” inequality have made it harder for many Americans to believe in or attain a better life than their parents. She highlights the disturbing spread of “deaths of despair,” the surprising optimism gap between poor whites and poor minorities, and the critical role of hope, as a form of agency and psychological capital, in shaping education, health, and employment outcomes. The conversation also explores how policy choices, social safety nets, and community institutions can either reinforce cycles of despair or help rebuild fairness, opportunity, and well-being in American society. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. B. Dr. Carol Graham shared compelling insights from her acclaimed book, “Happiness for All? Unequal Hopes and Lives in Pursuit of the American Dream”, in an engaging conversation on the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.