Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Written in an accessible style, this is a cautionary tale of how urban revitalization bypasses low-income communities, constraining the economic mobility of the working poor and increasing their reliance on shady financial services and other predatory institutions."—Nik Theodore, University of Illinois at Chicago
"The Servant Class City is a remarkable book. There are few other books that document growing urban inequality's mechanisms in such a fine-grained way, with both qualitative and quantitative evidence."—Jane Collins, University of Wisconsin–Madison
"The book’s strong point is its grounding in the real lives of people."—Planning Magazine
"This valuable case study does an excellent job of demonstrating the complex reality the hardworking poor face in neoliberal capitalism."—CHOICE
"Karjanen expertly illustrates the ineffectiveness of conventional revitalization initiatives devised to reduce poverty."—H-Net
"There is much to like about Karjanen’s work."—Journal of Urban Affairs
"Karjanen’s work is an exemplary study that paves the way for future work in urban sociology."—Contemporary Sociology
Table of ContentsContents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I. Changing Urban Fortunes
1. Subsidizing Capital and Expanding Low-Wage Work
2. A Good Job Is Hard to Find
Part II. Working in the Servant Class
3. Working in the Hospitality Industry
4. Working Retail in the Inner City
5. Working On, Off, and Around the Books
Part III. Living in the Servant-Class Economy
6. Do-It-Yourself Safety Nets
7. Asset Poverty and the High Cost of Fringe Banking
8. The Low-Income Trap: Barriers to Economic Mobility
Conclusion: An Expanding Servant Class or a Pathway to Prosperity?
Appendix A. The Communities
Appendix B. Servant Class Occupations in San Diego
Appendix C. Survey Data and Methodology Chronology
Bibliography
Index
