This book investigates how the shift toward unfettered free-market policies has destabilized the American family structure and eroded the economic security of the middle class. Maxine Eichner, a professor of law, utilizes extensive socioeconomic data and historical analysis to argue that the current market-centric approach prioritizes corporate interests over the foundational needs of households. She posits that the decline of the American Dream is a direct consequence of policy choices that have offloaded social risks onto families while simultaneously stripping away the institutional support systems necessary for their stability.

Experts in legal and economic policy describe this work as a rigorous critique of neoliberalism's impact on domestic stability. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a useful resource for students and policymakers interested in the intersection of family law and economic theory.