The Economics Show How bad is America’s affordability crisis? With Mechele Dickerson
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Jan 9, 2026 
Mechele Dickerson, a law professor at the University of Texas and author of The Middle Class New Deal, dives into America’s affordability crisis. She rates it a nine, arguing that the middle-class dream is slipping away, rooted in trends dating back to the 1980s. Dickerson contrasts today's struggles with the easier paths of previous generations, revealing how stagnant wages push families into hidden debt. She advocates for a New Middle Class New Deal, emphasizing education reforms and local housing policies to revitalize economic security for all.
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Middle Class Label Blurs Reality
- The label 'middle class' now covers both struggling households and the 'lower rich', blurring who truly needs help.
- That dilution hides the distinct struggles of genuinely middle-income Americans.
Good Headlines Hide Job Quality Problems
- Officials focus on aggregate metrics like GDP and unemployment but miss changing job quality and benefits.
- Dickerson warns that job presence alone doesn't equate to economic security for workers without raises or benefits.
Debt Masks Income Shortfalls
- Stagnant wages push middle-income households to use debt as an income replacement for emergencies and living costs.
- Dickerson stresses this hidden debt sustains a façade of middle-class life while inflicting financial and emotional harm.
