Publication

The Great Recession of 2007-2009 profoundly affected the American people, with increases in stress levels as well as job, housing and education insecurity. Despite the struggles during this extended period of economic difficulty, this paper argues the core American values and beliefs about economic opportunity and the nation's economic outlook, remain largely optimistic. While debate over the fundamentals of the American economy continues, the public's mood can be interpreted as retrenchment rather than defeat.