EPI senior economist Jared Bernstein has a new book out that is getting strong reviews. Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed? is an accessible explanation of what happened to the bulk of Americans during the past couple of decades, with a prescription for how to repair the damage. This week, Crunch was reviewed in the New York Times business section and prominently cited in a Bob Herbert column, also in the Times. Here is what the Utne Reader had to say about it: “No mere populist rant, Crunch is organized as a broad primer on U.S. economics that uses inequality as a starting point for understanding this wider subject. Bernstein’s concise explanations of issues like unemployment and health care expenses are meaty and engaging, offering laypeople tangible insight into how the economy functions and what it takes to ensure that those who make it work also share its rewards.” One of the most widely quoted economists in America, Bernstein has been touring the country to tout the book. Here is a video clip of one appearance in California. He has also nabbed prime real estate on the Huffington Post Web site, providing the featured post every Monday morning. His latest piece argues that conservative, supply-side economic policies have had plenty of time to work, and the results are dismal. It is time to try our approach now. Order a copy of Crunch in the EPI Bookstore.

Budget myopia threatens 21st Century G.I. Bill
This week’s Snapshot focuses on legislation introduced to allow veterans’ educational benefits to keep pace with the rising cost of higher education. Although some lawmakers have opposed the bill because of concerns about the federal budget deficit, an analysis by economist L. Josh Bivens, using federal data, shows that the proposed increase would have an imperceptible effect on the budget.