Lifespan and the Middle Class

Don Boudreaux and I address the myth that America’s middle class has stagnated in recent decades, here’s an excerpt: No single measure of well-being is more informative or important than life expectancy. Happily, an American born today can expect to live approximately 79 years—a full five years longer than in 1980 and more than a decade longer than in 1950. These longer life spans aren’t just enjoyed by “privileged” Americans.