Includes bibliographical references (p. 218-236) and index.
Contents:
pt. I. Overview of the fringe economy -- 1. America's changing fringe economy -- 2. Why the fringe economy is growing -- 3. Debt and the functionally poor middle class -- pt. II. The fringe sectors -- 4. The credit card industry -- 5. Storefront loans : pawnshops, payday loans, and tax refund lenders -- 6. Alternative services : check-cashers, the rent-to-own industry, and telecommunications -- 7. Fringe housing -- 8. Real estate speculation and foreclosure -- 9. The fringe auto industry -- 10. The getting-out-of-debt industry -- pt. III. Looking forward -- 11. What can be done to control the fringe economy? -- Glossary.
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