This book tracks the rise of the large American corporation, its role in greatly expanding the middle class, and the current economic pressures that are making it unsustainable.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Introduction: Tectonic shifts and the new economic landscape
• PART I THE CORPORATE CENTURY IN AMERICA
• Preface
• 1: Corporations in America and around the world
• 2: How the corporation conquered America
• 3: Taming the corporation
• 4: The postwar era of corporate dominance
• PART II WHY THE AMERICAN CORPORATION IS DISAPPEARING
• Preface
• 5: Shareholders get the upper hand
• 6: Nikefication and the rise of the virtual corporation
• 7: The public corporation becomes obsolete
• 8: The last gasp of the IPO market
• PART III CONSEQUENCES OF CORPORATE COLLAPSE
• Preface
• 9: The disappearing social safety net
• 10: Rising inequality
• 11: Declining upward mobility
• 12: Silver linings
• PART IV NOW WHAT?
• Preface
• 13: Possible postcorporate futures
• 14: Navigating a postcorporate economy
• Resources
• About the Author