Introduction to "Under the Boom: Observations on Social Stratification in Contemporary America - Fissures in the Golden State"
This book uses California as a sample and is based in Los Angeles. It adopts a realistic narrative style and uses Ding Yuan, a Chinese cross-border finance and taxation practitioner, as the core observer. It relies on the unique perspective of the tax industry to uncover the social truth behind the appearance of American prosperity.
The story unfolds along five class lines, covering the top class of capital, the elite middle class, ordinary industrial and commercial workers, blue-collar workers and lower-class immigrant groups, while interspersing the survival scenes of overseas Chinese communities. Silicon Valley upstarts, employees of large factories, Chinese businessmen, seasonal workers and other various characters intersect due to tax filing, community affairs, and the tide of the times.
The work directly faces real problems such as the hollowing out of industry, the continued shrinking of the middle class, youth employment difficulties, and the geographical separation of rich and poor, and objectively examines the contemporary dilemma of the "American Dream." It does not deliberately beautify or criticize one-sidedly, but records the opportunities and struggles of different groups of people. The book also incorporates real details such as overseas clan culture, Chinese community businesses, and practice certifications. Through the ups and downs of individuals' fortunes over decades, the book continues to ask: How many ordinary people can benefit from the prosperity of the times?
