Life expectancy in the US is shorter than in all other high-income countries. And within the US, Americans in the lower-middle class are projected to live shorter lives with greater health and economic challenges compared with upper-middle class Americans, according to new research from experts at Columbia University and the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. In fact, Americans between the 15th and 45th economic percentiles nearing retirement age are no better off today than similar Americans in 1994. The increasing homeownership gap, stagnant wages, low health insurance rates, and increased health challenges likely drive this widening class disparity.
The Urban Institute's presentation and panel discussion will identify the causes and potential policy solutions to curb this trend.