Debt-fueled consumption is a real concern at the median (visible in the post-crisis decline as people repay debts and worry about the economy) but is not a big driver of increased consumption at the bottom near the poverty line, where little borrowing occurs.

causalpending

Speaker

Bruce Meyer

Evidence Quote

they're not doing a lot of borrowing so debt is not a big part of the increase in consumption at the bottom

Source

Bruce Meyer on the Middle Class, Poverty, and Inequality 10/03/2011EconTalk
Created: 6/15/2026, 9:20:26 AM

My Notes

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