本書是美國著名經濟學傢 剋魯格曼 的最新力作。他在書中迴顧瞭將近一個世紀的美國曆史，從鍍金年代的政治經濟，直到布什年代的經濟停滯。他認為，這是保守主義運動掌控美國政府的必然結果，嬰兒潮時代美國中産階級的成長則是受益於小 羅斯福 的新政。剋魯格曼指齣，這兩種方嚮的發展都非自然演進的結果，都是由組織化的政治運動所引導的，尤其是 20 世紀 70 年代以後不斷加劇的兩極分化和社會不公。他在書中深入地探討瞭美國主張自由放任 資本主義 的 “ 保守主義運動 ” 對美國經濟、社會和政治的不良影響，呼籲重新展開社會政策的公共辯論，主張政府應發揮好 維護社會穩定和社會公正的作用，同時警醒世人不要冷漠對待社會經濟不平等議題，以緻錯失改革良機。

"The most consistent and courageous—and unapologetic—liberal partisan in American journalism." —Michael Tomasky, New York Review of Books In this "clear, provocative" ( Boston Globe ) New York Times bestseller, Paul Krugman, today's most widely read economist, examines the past eighty years of American history, from the reforms that tamed the harsh inequality of the Gilded Age and the 1920s to the unraveling of that achievement and the reemergence of immense economic and political inequality since the 1970s. Seeking to understand both what happened to middle-class America and what it will take to achieve a "new New Deal," Krugman has created his finest book to date, a "stimulating manifesto" offering "a compelling historical defense of liberalism and a clarion call for Americans to retake control of their economic destiny" ( Publishers Weekly ). "As Democrats seek a rationale not merely for returning to power, but for fundamentally changing—or changing back—the relationship between America's government and its citizens, Mr. Krugman's arguments will prove vital in the months and years ahead." —Peter Beinart, New York Times

保羅·剋魯格曼（Paul R. Krugman, 1953-）美國經濟學傢。保羅·剋魯格曼是自由經濟學派的新生代, 理論研究領域是貿易模式和區域經濟活動。目前是普林斯頓大學經濟係教授。

2008年諾貝爾經濟學奬獲得者。