This book came into my possession recently, The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War by R.J. Gordon.
Gordon divides into three periods the years from the end of the Civil War (1861- 1865) to 2015, the first two (1870-1970) witnessing the rise of American growth and the last one (1970-2015) the fall.
He attributes the rise of living standard to inventions like electricity, urban sanitation, modern inventions, and automobiles. The higher standard includes healthy foods with the passing of Pure Food and Drug Act (1906), modernized urban housing with lights, indoor plumbing, gas stove, heating and telephone, TV, refrigerator, and washing machine.
However, since 1970, American society has been going through a transformation, specifically from rise to fall with the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and the shrinking of the middle class.
We are all familiar with what has been happening since 1970s -- globalization, technological advances, outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, the loss of well-paying, unionized jobs in many industries.
On the whole, the author is techno-pessimistic about the past-peak American society today.
While American society may seem stagnant or over the hill since 1970s, it is still far advanced in the world in terms of living standards with safe food, clean water and air, modern housing, free public education, health care and decent social welfare.
Therefore, it still has a strong appeal in the world, especially among Third World countries, and continues to draw people from around the world.
The foundations laid prior to the 1970s have contributed to America's position as a global leader in various fields today.
That's why there are thousands of Chinese 润人润进美国 (rùn rén rùn jìn měi guó) run into America via southern border every day, together with other migrants from all over the world. 润 means run, 润人 means runner, 润进美国 means run into America. Hopefully they can realize their American dreams, whatever it may be.