For A New Thrift

National Conference
May 12-13, 2008
Washington, D.C.

Agenda | Register

Commission on Thrift

More about the commission

For a New Thrift:
Confronting the Debt Culture

More about the report

Thrift: A Cyclopedia

More about the cyclopedia

Exhibit

Change Box

Thrift Button

The conference is supported by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation

WE ARE SEEKING COLLEAGUES for a national campaign to confront the linked problems of high rates of personal and societal debt, low savings, and growing inequality. In this campaign, we will propose initiatives for a new thrift culture that can provide competitive alternatives to the current debt culture.

Overindebtedness has become an American way of life. The national debt has ballooned in recent years, the savings rate currently stands below zero, and roughly 2 million more Americans are likely to lose their homes in the coming year. In addition, many families are carrying high balances on a fistful of credit cards, raiding equity in their homes to pay for short-term wants and needs, and putting their faith in the lottery as the only way out of debt.

Read the entire "Appeal to Prospective Colleagues."

Download the PDF (597 kb, 20 pages, four-color booklet).

Articles:

"Let's Make it Cool to Save"
by Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post, May 11, 2008

"Economy Fitful, Americans Start to Pay as They Go"
by Peter S. Goodman, The New York Times, Feb. 5, 2008

"Time to Make Outsaving the Joneses a Reality,"
by Shannon Buggs, The Houston Chronicle, Jan. 12, 2008

"Forget Easy Money, Try Saving a Few Bucks"
by Ray Boshara and Philip Longman, The Washington Post, Oct. 7, 2007

"American Apostle of Thrift"
by David Blankenhorn, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 17, 2006