Economics by Reich “Why the rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer” written by Robert Reich, describes, as the title says, why the the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer. In Reich's essay he delves into numerous reasons and provides examples of each. One wonders whether the world will continue on the path of complete economic separation between rich and poor. A very important factor that Reich examines in his essay is that large companies always try to find an advantage, whether it is new technologies or lower wages. You might ask, what effect does this have on me? Big companies looking for the extra dollar to pocket are willing to spend whatever it takes to reduce production costs and increase profit margins. By doing whatever it takes in some cases, men can move operations overseas to developing countries that are happy to work. Unemployment rates in these developing countries are extremely high, so any paying job is great to have. Americans lose jobs to foreign workers because the American baby boom generation, as described by Reich, will live longer than past generations thanks to improvements in health-supporting drugs (Jacobus). This will create more opportunities in healthcare, but by that point in their lives this baby boomer generation will have mostly used up all their money. They will have to rely on social security. This generation will need others to help pay for medical care that falls on family members. This will result in more jobs for young adults, but also more things to pay for. Income from in-person services depends primarily on who they serve. Reich provides an example in his essay where he describes how a waitress in a small town might not earn as much as a waitress surrounded by moguls and superstars. Income is based on the local economy and perception of