Books by Howard Karger

Although the relationship between social work and organized labor dates from the turn of the century, labor union membership has only been open to social workers since the late 1930s.

Shortchanged exposes how America's "fringe economy"-the booming industry of check cashers, payday lenders, pawnshops, and so on-that prey on the poor and middle class..The first book to chronicle how the fringe economy ruthlessly and systematically exploits the poor and middle classes.The number of people affected by the fringe economy is enormous-it's not just poor immigrants, but working and middle class families who are affected.Author provides both the hard facts and personal stories-has scores of shocking real-life examplesShortchanged takes a hard look at the corporate vultures that prey on America's poor and middle classes. This "fringe economy"-made up of pawnshops, payday lenders, check cashers, credit card companies and the like-entices vulnerable consumers into an economic netherworld of high interest rates and ever-increasing debt. Powerful analysis is combined with moving personal stories of the mothers, fathers, and families whose lives have been put on the line for the perpetuation of this economy. Ruthless, compelling, outrageous, and often enraging, Shortchanged puts the spotlight on the shady side of America's economic underbelly.